First scientific assessment establishes Kaziranga as a fishing cat stronghold

GUWAHATI The archetypal technological appraisal of the sportfishing feline (Prionailurus viverrinus) has established Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve arsenic a stronghold of the tiny feline species.

The survey of the globally susceptible sportfishing cat, protected nether Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, was based connected camera-trap images disposable from all-India tiger estimation data. It was conducted by Kaziranga’s Tiger Cell successful collaboration with Tiasa Adhya, a idiosyncratic with the Fishing Cat Project.

Officials said that the survey was conducted to find if sportfishing cats are uncommon oregon communal successful Kaziranga, amended known arsenic a one-horned rhino domain, and to estimation the minimum fig of individuals present. The study was published connected February 22, observed arsenic Fishing Cat Day.

“A full of 57 unsocial individuals were identified crossed much than 450 sq. km. This indicated a healthy, reproducing colonisation wide distributed passim the tiger reserve,” a enactment connected the survey read. It added that the estimation could beryllium an undercount, arsenic the information were based connected camera trap grid size placed for tigers.

Citing the study, Assam’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the sportfishing cat, called Meseka successful Assamese, features successful folktales to symbolise a steadfast ecosystem. “The fig of this feline recorded successful Kaziranga is 1 of the highest ever successful floodplain ecosystems,” helium said.

“Our findings presumption Kaziranga arsenic a captious ark for this wetland specializer successful the Brahmaputra floodplains,” said Sonali Ghosh, the Director of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.

Critical wetland carnivore

Data compiled nether the Fishing Cat Project amusement that Kaziranga has the highest colonisation (at slightest 57) of the carnivore successful the Terai floodplain, followed by Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa National Park (both successful Uttar Pradesh) with populations ranging from 35 to 51.

The different large freshwater sportfishing feline habitats by colonisation are Pilibhit Tiger Reserve successful Uttarakhand (14-17), Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary successful U.P. (12-14), and Valmiki Tiger Reserve successful Bihar (6-7).

Among the estuarine habitats of the sportfishing cat, Sunderban Tiger Reserve successful West Bengal leads with an estimated colonisation of 385, followed by Chilika Lagoon successful Odisha (341), Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary successful Odisha (83-115), and Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary successful Andhra Pradesh (95-100).

The sportfishing cat, 1 of the fewer felids adapted for aquatic hunting, faces threats from situation nonaccomplishment and hunting. With disappearances noted successful Vietnam and Java, South Asia holds its planetary halfway population, tied to wetlands successful lowland stream basins.

Optimal habitats see bedewed alluvial grasslands, shallow beels (wetlands), bedewed meadows, and woodland refugia that assistance flood endurance

“Tracking wetland carnivores similar the sportfishing feline is indispensable amid clime alteration and stream modifications impacting freshwater biodiversity,” said Ian Harrison, co-chair of IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee.

IUCN SSC expands to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission.