Fishing cat

Scientific Name

Prionailurus viverrinus

IUCN Status

Vulnerable (VU)

Lifespan

about 12 years

Weight

5-14 kg

Habitat Type

Mangroves, Other Wetlands, Swamps and Marshes

Threats

Wetland habitat loss, depletion of main prey fish, poached for skin and meat, persecution/retaliatory killing, pollution

Did You Know

Fishing cats swim long distances, underwater, and dive to catch prey; their front paws are partially webbed as an adaptation for swimming

Also Known As

Bavurapilli in Telegu, baghrol or macchbagha in Bengali, meseka in Assamese, bunbiral and khupya bagh in Hindi

IUCN Status

Vulnerable (VU)

Lifespan

about 12 years

Weight

5-14 kg

Habitat Type

Mangroves, Other Wetlands, Swamps and Marshes

Threats

Wetland habitat loss, depletion of main prey fish, poached for skin and meat, persecution/retaliatory killing, pollution

Did You Know

Fishing cats swim long distances, underwater, and dive to catch prey; their front paws are partially webbed as an adaptation for swimming

Also Known As

Bavurapilli in Telegu, baghrol or macchbagha in Bengali, meseka in Assamese, bunbiral and khupya bagh in Hindi

Through videos, stories, infographics and more, here's a deep dive into the world and life of the fishing cat

Green Humour

See the species from a cartoonist's point of view

Deep Dive

Photos, stories, videos and everything you want to know

Hunter Among the Mangroves: The Fishing Cat of Coringa Learn More chevron_right
10 Results
Chilika Lake Swipes Right for the Fishing Cat
Green Humour
Chilika Lake Swipes Right for the Fishing Cat
Rohan Chakravarty
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
By
Rohan Chakravarty
Green Humour
The Fishing or Phishing Cat?
Green Humour
The Fishing or Phishing Cat?
Rohan Chakravarty
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
By
Rohan Chakravarty
Green Humour
Securing the Fishing Cat's Future in the Chilika Lagoon
Conservation
Securing the Fishing Cat's Future in the Chilika Lagoon
Sneha Mahale
Appointing the fishing cat as the ambassador of Chilika has drawn critical attention to this important wetland ecosystem that plays a major role in the survival of this wild feline
By
Sneha Mahale
Conservation
Meet Chilka Lake’s New Ambassador: The Fishing Cat
Green Humour
Meet Chilka Lake’s New Ambassador: The Fishing Cat
Rohan Chakravarty
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
By
Rohan Chakravarty
Green Humour
Love thy Neighbour: The Villagers of Paddapukur and the Fishing Cat
Video
Love thy Neighbour: The Villagers of Paddapukur and the Fishing Cat
Biont
In Paddapukur, a small village in West Bengal, fishermen and farmers are finding harmonious ways of living with their fellow fish-loving neighbour — the endangered fishing cat
By
Biont
Video
Fishing Cat: Secret Keeper of the Mangrove Forest
Video
Fishing Cat: Secret Keeper of the Mangrove Forest
Pooja Gupta
Hidden deep in the mangrove thickets of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, is the elusive, nocturnal fishing cat — one that knows the secrets of land and water
By
Pooja Gupta
Video
Fishing Cat: Facts, Population, Habitat
Infographic
Fishing Cat: Facts, Population, Habitat
Nisarg Prakash
Diviya Mehra
All you need to know about this piscivore
By
Nisarg Prakash
Diviya Mehra
Infographic
Fishing Cat: Elusive Hunter of the Wetland Forest
Photo Story
Fishing Cat: Elusive Hunter of the Wetland Forest
Sustain Team
This stealthy wild cat is not easy to spot even though it inhabits a variety of wetland ecosystems around India
By
Sustain Team
Photo Story
Hunter Among the Mangroves: The Fishing Cat of Coringa
Species
Hunter Among the Mangroves: The Fishing Cat of Coringa
Anita Rao-Kashi
Dhritiman Mukherjee
Relatively unknown, elusive, and utterly beautiful, the fishing cat is among the mangroves’ most spectacular animals
By
Anita Rao-Kashi
Dhritiman Mukherjee
Species
The Fishing Cat in Laxmi’s Backyard
Conservation
The Fishing Cat in Laxmi’s Backyard
Paromita Ray
Giridhar Malla
Dr K Sivakumar
A study of the biodiversity of the Godavari delta offers a glimpse into the conservation status of the wetland dependant fishing cat that lives in the mangroves and swamps of this coastal region of Andhra Pradesh
By
Paromita Ray
Giridhar Malla
Dr K Sivakumar
Conservation