This project focuses on the conservation of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in their wild habitats. Although the project is based in Thailand, it has broad relevance and value to fishing cats throughout the Southeast Asian portion of their range.

The fishing cat is a secretive cat found near marshes and swamps of South and Southeast Asia. The species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, human disturbance, and direct persecution. Few studies have documented the ecology of the fishing cat and conservation efforts have been hindered by a lack of information on distribution and conservation status of the species. Although a variety of general conservation projects have included fishing cats as one of a suite of target species, rarely has the species been the exclusive target of conservation action in the wild.

There is mounting anecdotal evidence that fishing cat populations may be in a precipitous state of decline throughout most--if not all--of their historical range. Although fishing cats are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, they receive relatively little species-specific attention from ongoing conservation efforts in Southeast Asia. In light of these developments, at the 2007 International Felid Biology and Conservation Conference, experts recommended that the IUCN elevate the fishing cat’s current listing from vulnerable to endangered.

The most urgent fishing cat research and conservation needs include:

The project has four components, each contributing to fishing cat conservation in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia. The first of these is a regional review of fishing cat distribution and conservation status involving the compilation of all current and historical data on fishing cat occurrence throughout Southeast Asia. The project’s second component is a detailed ecological study of fishing cats in their natural habitat. This research has been initiated at Thale Noi Non-hunting Area, a 500 km Ramsar wetland area in southern Thailand and the only site in the country where fishing cats have been conclusively documented in the last 10 years. This component of the project will provide biologists with a solid foundation upon which to plan subsequent ecological research and conservation efforts. A third component of the project seeks to take advantage of the project’s live capture component to screen animals for the presence of several emerging zoonotic diseases. Avian influenza, SARS, and other diseases are now significant health concerns for both wildlife and human populations. We work collaboratively with regional partners to ensure that our work contributes to current disease research and monitoring efforts. The fourth project component is education and outreach. Using the activities and results of the project as primary content, we use presentations, posters, and other tools to raise awareness of fishing cats and other wetland dependent species and encourage more sustainable use of the wetland landscapes upon which they depend.

Field surveys involve the continued application of a proven protocol in which fishing cat occurrence is first established through the presence of the species’ unique tracks or feces. Once occurence is established, we use camera traps to obtain concrete photo-documentation of this and other species. We then use radio telemetry methods to investigate the movements and habitat utilization of fishing cats. These data will be used to analyse fishing cat movements in relation to human impacts.