Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus Bennett, 1833 (Carnivora: Felidae) distribution and habitat characteristics in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

A rare glimpse into the elusive Fishing Cat's (Prionailurus viverrinus) presence in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, reveals its limited distribution and specialized habitat preferences. Through systematic camera-trap surveys spanning 868 days across four blocks of the park, researchers documented only five individuals at three locations, primarily in tall grasslands near oxbow lakes and riverbanks. This study highlights critical threats to the species, including wetland shrinkage, prey depletion, and human persecution, while emphasizing the urgent need for conservation actions such as wetland restoration, reduced human pressure, and increased fish densities. The findings underscore the importance of targeted research, such as genetic diversity studies and radio-tagging, to better understand and protect this threatened felid within UNESCO-listed Chitwan National Park.

Mishra, R., Basnet, K., Amin, R., & Lamichhane, B. R. (2018). Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus Bennett, 1833 (Carnivora: Felidae) distribution and habitat characteristics in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 10(11), 12451–12458. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3426.10.11.12451-12458