The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, will begin collaring 10 fishing cats (Prionailurusviverrinus) in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Andhra Pradesh.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had also permitted the project.
- The country’s first such project will be led by principal investigator Bilal Habib.
- The three-year project will also study its habitat, feeding habits, threats and movements
- In Asia, a similar project had been done in Bangladesh.
- The 2018 census had recorded the existence of 115 fishing cats.
About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
- Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary , a mangrove ecosystem, spreads above 235.7 square km. In October, 177 square km area surrounding the sanctuary was declared as eco-sensitive zone.
About Fishing Cat
- The Fishing Cat or Prionailurus Viverrinus is a medium-sized cat endemic to South and Southeast Asia.
- It is mostly found in wetlands and is among the 15 felids (cat) species that inhabit India. Since 2016, the State animal of West Bengal, the fishing cat has been listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List. Less than 10,000 fishing cats are left in the world.
- First-ever photographic evidence of a Fishing Cat was confirmed in the Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. The endangered animal was first spotted here two years ago in 2019.
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