From India to South China & the Sunda shelf region
The fishing cats
Stealthy hunters
Fishing cats are known to spend long periods of time stalking fish by the water’s edge. To hasten the process, they may lightly paw the water surface to imitate insect movements. Fish hoping to make a meal of an insect end up as a meal for the cats when they swim too close.
Plunging into the water with lightning speed, the cats expertly grab their slippery prey with their partially-webbed paws. They have also been observed to seize ducks by swimming underwater.
Spots and stripes
The fishing cat’s olive-grey coat is marked by distinct patterns. Six to eight black lines run from the forehead to the neck, breaking up into shorter lines and spots on the shoulders.
Markings above the eyes are vertical while those emerging from the edges of the eyes are horizontal. Our pair of fishing cat sisters look very similar but you can tell them apart by zooming in on the whiskered parts of their cheeks. Latika has a striped pattern while Lalita has spots.
Together, we protect wildlife
Troubled waters
Affected by pollution and over-exploitation, an estimated 50% of Southeast Asian wetlands are disappearing. We can choose products that support better use of the land.
Let’s reduce pollution and support eco-friendly fishing and farming ideas to ensure fishing cats always have a wetland to call home.
The IUCN Status
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
DD
Data Deficient
Unknown risk of extinction
LC
Least Concern
At relatively low risk of extinction
NT
Near Threatened
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
EN
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
EW
Extinct in the Wild
Survives only in captivity
EX
Extinct
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity