Context: The Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun is preparing to execute India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

About this Project

• The Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun is executing India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project as part of the second fishing cat census. 

• This three-year project aims to study the species' home range, behaviour, habitat ecology, feeding habits, and space use. 

• The project plans to collar 10 fishing cats with lightweight GIS-equipped devices. 

• The collaring is expected to be completed by March or April 2025. 

About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location– It is part of the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa River merges with the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district.

• Between this area and the sea ” Hope Island ” blocks the direct confluence of the sea and Godavari.

• As a result, about 40% of the sanctuary is only sea-backwaters and the rest of the area is intermingled with creeks and gets inundated with tidal waters.

• Vegetation– It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forest. It is the second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India.

• Flora– Mangrove plants like Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonnertia spp, etc.

• Fauna– It is home to rare and endangered mammals like Smooth Indian otter, Fishing cat, Jackal, etc. Mangroves offer excellent habitat for birds like Black capped kingfisher, Brahminy kite, Sea gulls, Reef heron, Sand piper, etc.

About Fishing Cat

• The Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat.

• It is a solitary and nocturnal predator, spending its days resting in dense vegetation and venturing out at night to hunt near water.

• It is known for its exceptional swimming abilities; this cat can cover long distances in water, often while chasing fish.

• Habitat: They primarily inhabit wetlands, including swamps, marshes, oxbow lakes, reed beds, tidal creeks, and mangrove forests.

• Distribution: They are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, ranging from Sri Lanka and parts of Pakistan to western India, southern China, Java, and Sumatra.

Conservation status

• IUCN: Vulnerable

• CITES: Appendix II

• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I