The conservation status of the Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus Bennett, 1833 (Carnivora: Felidae) In Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Abstract

<p>The status of the Fishing Cat <em>Prionailurus viverrinus</em> in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal was assessed by camera trapping and pugmark searches from 2011 to 2014. The reserve is a highly dynamic and unstable snow-fed braided river system with many anabranches and islands. Evidence of Fishing Cats was found throughout most of the reserve. They were probably more abundant on the eastern side, among the islands of the main river channel, and in the adjacent buffer zone where there was a chain of fishponds and marsh areas fed by seepage from the main river channel. Evidence of Fishing Cats was found up to 6km north of the reserve on the Koshi River but not beyond this. The population is probably small and may be isolated but given the endangered status of the species, is significant. The main likely threats identified are wetland and riparian habitat deterioration caused by over exploitation and illegal grazing by villagers, overfishing of wetlands and rivers within the reserve, and direct persecution arising from perceived conflicts with fish farming and poultry husbandry. Required conservation actions are discussed.</p><div> </div>

Population status and threats to fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Eastern Nepal

“…The patchy distribution close to wetland areas throughout its range indicates its strong association with wetlands. In most part of its range countries including Nepal, the conversion of large parts of natural wetlands to aquaculture for fish, shrimps and prawn farming has affected fishing cats with loss of their natural preys, increasing human-fishing cat conflicts and retaliatory killing (Chowdhury et al 2015;Mukherjee et al 2012;Taylor et al 2016). Road kills and poaching for fur are additional threats for fishing cats throughout its range (Heinen & Leisure 1993;Palei et al 2018).…”

“…It was recorded from Sunsari in the east to Kanchanpur district in the far west with discontinuous distribution between them (Jnawali et al 2011;Yadav et al 2020). Five protected areas (PAs) of Terai namely Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR); Parsa, Chitwan, Bardia and Shuklaphanta National Parks have evidence of fishing cat (Mishra 2016;Poudel et al 2019;Poudyal et al 2019;Taylor et al 2016;Yadav et al 2020;Yadav et al 2018). Outside the protected area, it was recorded from three locations in Bankalwa (Sunsari), Bodhban (Bara) and Jagdishpur Reservoir (a Ramsar site in Kapilvastu) (Dahal et al 2014(Dahal et al , 2016Shrestha 2018).…”

“…We conducted this study in the KTWR at eastern lowland Nepal. It is believed that a relatively healthy population of fishing cats exists there (Taylor et al 2016). We assessed the population status of fishing cat in both core area and buffer zone of the KTWR as well as documented the existing threats to them.…”

Opportunistic records of jungle cat (Felis chaus) and their activity pattern in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

“…Such attitude of local people could be a threat for the survival of jungle cats which are living in the fringes of communities. Fishing cats, the other predators of similar size specializing on fishing, also visit frequently in these fish farms (Taylor et al 2016). Interaction between them is also not well understood.…”

“…It is one of the important protected areas with a freshwater ecosystem of the snow-fed Koshi River. However, the KTWR is facing rapid land cover change, especially wetlands (decreased by >30 since its establishment), which has a critical impact on habitat specialized species (Chaudhary et al 2016, Taylor et al 2016. Along with jungle cat, the reserve holds other carnivores such as fishing cat, golden jackal (Canis aureus), Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) and mongoose (Herpestes spp.).…”