Fishing Cat Population Booming in Chilika

Four years after the Chilika Development Authority assigned ambassadorship to fishing cats, the species appears to be thriving in Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon. The latest population density estimate indicates that the northern and southern parts of Chilika hold a robust number of fishing cats — the highest density reported outside protected areas, according to the researchers.

The study, carried out in two phases during 2021 and 2022, utilised 144 camera traps over 4,380 trap nights. It was conducted in the northern and southern blocks of Chilika (northern block includes the north and northeastern sides of the lagoon) where distinct fishing cat habitats exist.

The findings revealed that both regions together support a population of roughly 344 fishing cats. “We referred to other studies and also examined the estimations of fishing cats in various locations and countries. According to the existing data, this is the highest density of fishing cats to date and the only one estimated outside protected areas,” says the lead author of the study, Tiasa Adhya, from the Centre for Conservation of Natural Resources at the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, and a member of the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance in Texas.

Adhya, who is also the founder of The Fishing Cat Project, a long-term research project on fishing cats in West Bengal and Odisha, points to the abundant fish population in Chilika as a key factor that led to the increase in density of fishing cats at Chilika.

More prey for predator health

Chilika lake boasts a diverse fish population of over 300 species, with estimates suggesting a total of 19 metric tonnes of fish. This abundance sustains a variety of predator species, including smooth-coated otters, Eurasian otters, and the renowned Irrawaddy dolphins. “This landscape is human dominated, with around 200,000 (two lakh) fishermen dependent on the lake for their livelihoods. Despite this, all these fish-eating mammals coexist in one area, which indicates the health of the landscape,” Adhya explains. Other mammals found around the lagoon include the golden jackal, Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, striped hyena, and honey badger.

Another significant outcome of the study is the understanding that the density of Chilika’s ambassador remained resolute despite the difference in the habitat structure of the northern and southern sides studied, suggesting that “fishing cats may be able to adapt to patchy refuge patches as long as prey is abundant and rates of persecution remain low,” the paper notes.

The northern and northeastern sides of Chilika are more homogeneous, featuring contiguous marshland dominated by Phragmites karka, a perennial reed and a well-known refuge for the fishing cat, which benefits from freshwater flow from the river. In contrast, the southern brackish side presents a mosaic of different land-cover types, including wetlands with mangrove-associated species such as Pandanus, aquaculture ponds, crop fields, and human settlements, which reduce the fishing cat habitat to fragmented patches.

People-led conservation

Listed as a globally vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a Schedule 1 species under the Indian Wild Life Protection Act 1972, which means it is granted the highest level of protection.

As habitat specialists, the health of the wetlands where fishing cats are present, is crucial for their survival, says conservationist Murthy Kantimahanti, founder of the Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society, drawing from his experience in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, where his work is focused. However, he does not believe that the availability of fish alone determines fishing cat numbers and survival, as fishing cats have a diverse diet that includes squirrels, rodents, birds, molluscs, and even water snakes, although they primarily feed on freshwater fish. “The landscape and the connectivity of subpopulations are very important,” he explains. “Much of our attention in north coastal Andhra is on minimising conflicts between humans and the species,” he adds, noting that frequent flooding of the landscape results in habitat loss for the species, pushing them closer to humans, where they prey on small livestock.

Fishing cats are a highly threatened species, primarily because they are habitat specialists, and their habitat — wetlands — does not receive adequate protection. In regions where fishing cats are found, socio-economic developments such as aquaculture and dam construction further threaten their presence.

These factors make fishing cat conservation a multi-stakeholder partnership, with local communities playing a crucial role. Adhya attributes a significant part of the survey’s success to this collaboration. “The survey, an integral part of our conservation effort, was truly a multi-stakeholder initiative where local community members played a pivotal role. The fishermen were at the centre of its implementation,” she explains.

Adhya also highlights the efforts of various enforcement agencies, such as the Chilika Development Authority and the Chilika Wildlife Division, which were instrumental in both the study and the protection of the species. Given that the study was conducted outside protected areas, involvement from various government departments, including fisheries and revenue, was also essential, making it a united effort. “We also had students volunteering, along with scientists. Each survey team included representatives from the local community, mostly local fishermen, students, scientists, and enforcement agencies,” Adhya elaborates.

It’s not often easy to get various government departments to work together as each department has its own priorities and often focuses on human welfare, historically neglecting the integration of nature into their policy frameworks. However, the impacts of climate change have shifted perspectives in recent years; ignoring nature conservation is no longer an option, says Adhya, adding: “There is an increasing understanding of the importance of conserving wetlands and other ecosystems. We have often maintained that conserving ecosystems is something that is going to sustain humans as well. Biodiversity is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.”

Impressed by the results of the survey, the Odisha Forest Department is developing a Fishing Cat Action Plan, which includes regular density estimations of the species and threat mitigation activities. These activities will encompass controlling reed fires, building capacity within local communities to enhance conservation efforts, conducting research, and promoting stewardship programmes among student communities.

This story was first published on Mongabay India