Fishing cats are medium-sized felines. Another threat to the fishing cat is depletion of its main prey-fish due to unsustainable fishing practices. From 2008 to 2016, the animals were classified as Endangered by the IUCN. The animal dives into water to catch fish and scoops prey out of the water with its paws. (Although I'm not a cat person, I'd make an exception.). I did not get a look at the face but got a good look at the body which was mottled with browns tans black and white. When fishing these cats stand at the edge of a river and lightly tap the water like an insect. The animals have an elongated face, small ears that are positioned far back on their head, short legs, and a short tail. It's definitely a cat that is not afraid of water. Thank you so much for having this. The animal has a striped and spotted coat and is about twice as big as a domestic cat. Thank you very much, Snakesmum. Only in a very few areas it seems to reach densities of up to 15-25 cats per 100 km².A Brazilian radio tele… Congrats on Hub of the Day! Some are kept in captivity and can be observed by the public, but there is a lot that is unknown about the life of the animals in the wild. Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on March 19, 2014: Such wonderful animals….we can't lose THEM, too. They are ready to live on their own when they are ten to fifteen months old. I love and adore kitties. I don’t know whether any research has been done related to that idea. 0000019729 00000 n why are sea lions endangered. Congratulations on the Hub of the Day. In the Philippines, many exotic animals are dwindling in numbers due to neglect and illegal pet trade. Lee John from Preston on February 09, 2015: Stunning hub as per usual! Its numbers are decreasing. It does have a large appetite, but it probably balances out the environment. Thanks for writing about the fishing cats! The fishing cat has a life expectancy of 12 years and it’s in danger of extinction, despite the fact that many countries have placed them under protection.. This is new to me, I had never heard of these. The word mangrove also refers to the habitat in which the plants are growing. A gharial is a crocodile-like reptile that had very long, narrow jaws. I appreciate your visit and comment. The fishing cat is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, which means that it faces a high threat of extinction in the wild. I appreciate your comment and congratulations very much. The status of the fishing cat in the wild is worrying. Fishing cats are endangered because humans are destroying their habitat, and driving away their prey species. Fishing cats are one of the best swimmers around and are completely at home in the water. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on March 06, 2014: Hi, Lady Guinevere. I didn't know their existence is in danger in Asia. A Species Survival Plan Program (SSP) is a cooperative management program between accredited zoos belonging to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or AZA. A fishing cat has an attractive coat with the following features. Thanks for the comment. Check. Across their range, fishing cats discontinuously occur in coastal and inland wetlands, hill country rain forests near rivers and streams, in marsh areas, reed beds, tidal creeks and mangrove forests.. More recently, they have also been recorded in degraded habitats in the Ganges Delta and near aquaculture ponds in the Gulf of Thailand. It appears to help control the rat population and decrease the incidence of disease. I'd love to read it! Sumatran elephants are in fact critically endangered. These have been established in both Europe and North America. Flat-headed cat and fishing cat require immediate research and conservation attention. Lek the fishing cat can be heard "barking" in the video above. I hope you're successful in raising awareness for endangered animals. The coat is made of two layers of hair. Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on February 09, 2015: Thank you for this introduction to fishing cats. During 2016, they were reclassified as Vulnerable. The mangroves of Sundarban are known to be home to one of the most popular wild cats of India- the Royal Bengal Tiger. The backs of the ears have black hair with a white spot in the middle. I don't think the fishing cat is as well known as many wild cats, but it's certainly worth studying. From 2008 to 2016, the animals were classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on October 26, 2018: Hi, Hailey. Sad but true. Answer: Since there is a lot that is unknown about the life of the fishing cat in the wild, its role and importance in nature aren’t completely understood. Rats and feral cats can decimate the population by attacking the birds, chicks or the eggs. It's unknown if the males do this in the wild. But unlike their charismatic Asiatic cousins, they might be even more endangered due to the low awareness about them and the rapid loss of the intact wetlands and mangrove forests where they live. I've seen a lot of good articles written by other people on the Owlcation website. The fishing cat's coat is a camouflaged gray-brown with distinctive black spots and stripes. Sometimes the stripes extend from the neck along the cat's spine. This cat is really pretty and I love cats! I appreciate the congrats. The fishing cat is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It's generally about the size of a domestic cat instead of larger than one. | Fighting for Hope's Blog. Hi, mySuccess8. These produce the coat's pattern and help to camouflage the animal. However they have incorrectly credited … I'd not heard of this cat before; at least I don't think so. Fishing cats are listed as endangered species. I hope it's saved, too! It would be sad if they disappeared from the planet. They look gorgeous. They are so unique. இڿڰۣ-- кιмвєяℓєу from Niagara Region, Canada on February 09, 2015: To be honest, I've never heard of this species of cat before reading your hub today. I'm happy to meet another person who likes wild cats! P.S I think fishing cats are beautiful! What a great experience, Cynthia! Question: How many fishing cats are left in the wild? Answer: That’s an interesting question. Fishing cats may have a more important effect on the fish population in specific areas, though. These threats include settlement, draining for agriculture, pollution, and excessive hunting, woodcutting and fishing. I'm doing a report about it and this was probably the best information I could get about fishing cats. The goal of the SSP program is to carefully manage and conserve endangered animals. Freshwater habitats are preferred over ones affected by the tide. Thanks for subscribing! Stronger conservation efforts are needed to reverse the rapidly declining numbers of the fishing cat due to loss of its preferred wetland habitats. Sea lions are classified by DOC as ‘nationally critical’ – the same level of threat as Māui dolphins and kakapo. The kittens generally enter water for the first time when they are around two months old. As the name suggests, the fishing cat prey primarily on fish, frogs and crustaceans for a tasty meal. Gail Sobotkin from South Carolina on February 09, 2015: I never heard of the fishing cat, but you did a great job of describing it and I loved the pictures. Learning how to catch fish is an important skill for the youngsters to learn. The primary cause of the fishing cat’s declining population is habitat loss. The cat’s declining population is due to habitat loss. 70% of their diet is fish leading to their name. Thank you for sharing. Your hubs are always so well researched and beautifully crafted that the staff could safely pick any one of them. In one study, a male was found to have a large territory that overlapped the smaller territories of several females. However this one is a newbie to me and what a fascinating one it is both in appearance and habits. Their fur is olive-gray with black stripes and spots. That includes horses, goats, birds, fish, snakes, hamsters, ferrets, bunnies...you name it! The change in Red List category is a non-genuine change reflecting the very recent increase in information quality; it does not indicate an improved conservation status for the species since the last assessment. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on July 26, 2014: Hi, Monis Mas. It's a beautiful animal. I would have been upset that I wasn't able to take a photo, too! 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