Guwahati: Better known worldwide for its rhinoceros and tiger populations, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has now been identified as an important stronghold for the endangered Fishing Cat, following the first scientific assessment of the species in the landscape.
Researchers have documented at least 57 individual Fishing Cats across more than 450 square kilometres of Kaziranga’s floodplain wetlands, signalling a healthy and breeding population of the elusive feline.
The Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is one of the few wild cats adapted for hunting in water.
The study was conducted by the Tiger Cell of Kaziranga in collaboration with scientist Tiasa Adhya of the Fishing Cat Project. Scientists analysed camera-trap “by-catch” data originally collected during the All India Tiger Estimation exercise to determine whether the species is rare or widespread within the reserve and to establish a minimum population figure.
The identification of 57 unique individuals suggests the population is widely distributed across Kaziranga’s wetlands.
Researchers caution that the actual number is likely higher, as camera traps were designed primarily for large mammals such as tigers and may miss smaller, semi-aquatic carnivores.
Field Director of Kaziranga, Dr Sonali Ghosh, said the findings enhance the park’s conservation significance. “Our results position Kaziranga as a vital ark for this wetland specialist in the Brahmaputra floodplains,” she said.
According to the 2025 IUCN Red List assessment, most of India’s large Fishing Cat populations are concentrated in estuarine ecosystems such as the Sundarbans and Chilika Lake.
Among freshwater landscapes, Kaziranga’s estimated numbers are among the highest recorded, exceeding figures reported from sites such as Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar.
Fishing Cats depend heavily on lowland river basin wetlands, habitats increasingly threatened by encroachment, infrastructure development and river modification. The species has already disappeared from parts of its former range in Southeast Asia, making South Asia its global stronghold.
Dr Ian Harrison, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee, said monitoring wetland carnivores is crucial as climate change and altered river systems reshape freshwater biodiversity.
Ms Adhya added that Fishing Cats function as ecological indicators. “Their presence in large numbers reflects healthy floodplain ecosystems. They are ecological sentinels for Kaziranga,” she said.
Within the park, the cats are most often associated with wet alluvial grasslands, shallow beels, wet meadows and woodland refuges that provide shelter during annual floods. The study establishes a scientific benchmark for tracking future changes in wetland extent and quality.
The report was launched on February 22, observed as Fishing Cat Day, during programmes that included community outreach, student activities, safaris and expert talks. Releasing a promotional video, Assam’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary described the Fishing Cat, locally known as “Meseka”, as a symbol of healthy ecosystems and living heritage.
The findings broaden Kaziranga’s conservation narrative beyond its iconic megafauna, highlighting the park’s growing role as a refuge for lesser-known but ecologically important species of freshwater landscapes.
Also Read: Verification loops, broken promises: Why Nagaland teachers renewed regularisation stir