Animals in the United States

This Aquatic Wildcat Quacks Like A Duck—And Is Feared To Be Extinct In 2 Of Its Natural Habitats

Fishing cats are native to South and Southeast Asia and are classified as a vulnerable species. ... [+] Protecting fast-disappearing wetlands may be our best hope of saving them.

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As anyone who owns a pet feline knows, cats generally don't like water. There are exceptions, however, and the aptly named fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is one of them. This medium-sized wildcat is native to the wetlands and mangrove forests of South and Southeast Asia—India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand and so on—where it has developed an extraordinary ability to thrive in water-rich environments.

Unlike most cats, this one has several adaptations that make it a skilled swimmer, including webbed paws and a water-resistant coat. And, as the name suggests, their diet primarily consists of fish, which they catch using remarkable techniques such as tapping the water's surface to mimic insect movements or diving completely underwater to snag their prey. This is complemented by a diet that also includes other aquatic and semi-aquatic creatures like frogs, crustaceans, and small rodents.

They also make a distinct vocalization that sounds almost like a duck quacking. All of these remarkable adaptations make the fishing cat a master of its aquatic dwellings.

Yet, despite their evolutionary prowess, fishing cats—and the myriad other species that share their habitat—are under severe threat. The wetlands that support this intricate web of life are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Asia Lost 32% Of It's Natural Wetlands Between 1970 And 2015

This staggering loss of natural wetlands is largely driven by escalating demands for agriculture, aquaculture and the expansion of palm oil plantations. In Southeast Asia alone, over 100,000 hectares of vital mangrove forests have been cleared to accommodate these industries.

Mangroves, crucial for carbon sequestration and as buffers against storms and flooding, are being converted at an alarming pace. This destruction directly impacts the fishing cat population by reducing available habitat and prey species. Moreover, the fragmentation of these environments increases the vulnerability of fishing cats to human-wildlife conflicts, often leading to deadly encounters. One study finds that about 80% of the fishing cat's predicted habitat overlaps with human-populated areas, including farms and settlements.

The Situation, For The Endangered Fishing Cat, Is Dire

In Java, Indonesia, where the fishing cat was once common, the last reported sighting was in the year 2000. This absence is particularly alarming, considering the fishing cat's adaptability and previously widespread presence across the country's wetlands.

Their elusiveness, while making precise population assessments difficult, typically allows them to survive in low-visibility environments. Yet, even accounting for their secretive nature, such a prolonged absence indicates a grim reality: The species may already be locally extinct in regions of Indonesia.

Experts also believe Vietnam's Mekong Delta, once a home for fishing cats, can no longer support their kind owing to lack of sufficient mangrove forested regions. It is common practice in Vietnam, to convert Mekong Delta mangroves into surface water for supporting Vietnam's $4 billion shrimp industry.

The Mekong Delta, long renowned as the "rice bowl of Vietnam", is now also home to a ... [+] multi-billion-dollar shrimp industry and burgeoning numbers of farmers are building fortunes from the small crustaceans.

AFP via Getty Images Saving The Fishing Cat Is Possible, But It Means Saving Our Wetlands First

The elusive nature of fishing cats makes direct conservation efforts targeting individual animals extremely challenging. These cats are hard to spot and occupy vast, often inaccessible wetland territories. The most effective way to ensure their survival is by focusing on preserving their natural habitats—wetlands and mangroves.

India is home to approximately 40% of the world's fishing cat population, marking it as a critical region for the species' conservation. Despite their significant presence, awareness about fishing cats remains remarkably low in India. However, concerted efforts by conservationists are starting to make a difference.

One notable initiative is the designation of the fishing cat as an ambassador species for Chilika Lake in Odisha, a Ramsar site recognized globally for its wetland conservation value. This strategic move has placed the fishing cat at the center of local conservation efforts, underscoring the importance of wetland habitats for wildlife and human livelihoods alike.

Conservation in action at Chilika Lake, Asia's largest saltwater lagoon, renowned for its vast bird ... [+] diversity. Here, a researcher uses a telescope to study migratory patterns. Protecting this crucial habitat aids not just the migratory birds from Arctic regions but also the local fishing cat populations.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Conservationists are diligently working to build awareness about the fishing cat's role in the ecosystem. This work extends beyond India. In Pakistan, a small team of dedicated conservationists under the guidance of the Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance (FCCA) is pioneering efforts to enhance local ecosystems. Meanwhile, in Cambodia, conservationists are advancing mangrove reforestation projects, and in Sri Lanka, where fishing cat roadkill is a significant issue, measures are being taken to reduce it.

These local and international efforts showcase the global commitment to not only preserving a species but also maintaining the ecological balance of wetlands critical for our planet's health.

Cats After Dark: Q&A With Catfish Angler Jimmi Brown On Night Fishing

For me, some things just go together. Burgers and chocolate banana milkshakes. Tie-dye t-shirts and 1971 VW Bay Window buses. And catfishing after dark with my little brother. Channel catfish eat something roughly every four hours, meaning there's a catfish gobbling something somewhere every minute of every day. And that includes after dark, which, for many catfish fanatics, is one of the best times to wet a line and fill a cooler.

Jimmi Brown certainly thinks so. A resident of Montezuma, Iowa, Brown owns and operates Chasin' Cats Guide Service, an outfit specializing in putting anglers on catfish of all sizes, especially big channel cats. A tournament catfisherman since '93, Brown is a member of the Whisker Seeker Tackle pro team and an obsessed catfish angler.

Brown fishes whenever he can, but he spends quite a bit of his time roaming the waters of central Iowa after sundown in search of his forked tail quarry. I had the chance to sit down with Brown to discuss the art of catching catfish in the dark.

Jimmi Brown holds up a big channel catfish after a successful night of fishing. (Photo/Jimmi Brown)

Q: Why catfish, Jimmi? What's the attraction and why the popularity?

While I don't want to speak for every person on the planet, for me, it's the opportunity to catch a one-pound fish or a 30-pound fish.

Q: Do channel catfish act differently after dark?

I think that's a bit of a misconception. I grew up tournament fishing in the 1990s, and every catfish tournament was held at night. We'd fish from 7 pm to 7 am or 8 pm to 8 am. That was done primarily to stay out of the heat during the summer. Ultimately, it helps keep you away from the pleasure boaters, so we pretty much had the lake to ourselves after dark. But catfish feed all the time. There have been studies done that claim [a channel catfish] feeding cycle is every four hours, so there are fish feeding somewhere.

Q: Dusk. Dawn. Midnight and full dark. Does the time of night make a difference?

Generally speaking, the fish seem to be a little more active right when that sun's going down. And that's usually because the baitfish are on the move then. When the baitfish are up shallow, the cats are going to be up shallow. They're going to go where the food is.

From left clockwise: Two clients of Brown's hold up big catfish, the nightfishing setup on the stern of Brown's boat. (Photo/Jimmi Brown)

Q: Can you fish in the same location at midnight that you did at noon, or are you looking for different water?

You shouldn't because when that sun gets high in the middle of the day, those fish typically move out of the shallows and go a little deeper. If I was fishing at noon, I'd be looking for 10 to 20 feet of water. As the sun starts going down, then you can start moving shallower.

Q: Is two feet too shallow?

Never. We'll often fish slip bobbers right up against the bank. Rocks, jetties, weedlines. Any place those fish can ambush prey, that's a prime target.

Q: Unless you're a cat or an owl, you're going to be using some type of light source. What are your thoughts on lighting?

Back in the '90s, when I was tournament fishing, we'd hang lanterns in the boat. And then we'd deal with all the moths and mosquitos and mayflies. We got smart real quick and ditched the lanterns and switched to ultraviolet (UV) black lights. At the time, there were only one or two companies that offered monofilament fishing line that glowed under a black light. But the change allowed us to run only our bow and stern lights. No interior boat lights. And then we mounted 12-volt UV black lights on the sides of our boats.

Q: Let's talk baits. Cut bait? Stink bait? Crawlers? Does it matter?

My bait selection depends on water temperature and time of year. During ice-out, I'm using small baits the size of a quarter or maybe a 50-cent coin. By the time fall comes, I'm pulling big baits. The head off a 10-inch bluegill or a 12-inch crappie. I'll run a Santee Cooper rig with a crappie or bluegill head and another one with chunks or sides or cut bait. I'll use shad on reservoirs that have shad. But I'll always have bluegill, crappie, creek chubs, and white bass as cut bait. There are times when shad out-performs all other kinds of bait, and there have been many trips where they won't eat anything but a bluegill or a crappie. I always have multiple baits with me.

Jimmi Brown holds up a good-sized catfish after a night of fishing. (Photo/Jimmi Brown)

Q: A Google search for catfish rigs turns up approximately 8.34 million results. Do you have a go-to rig, or does it change depending on the situation?

It does depend. Right after ice-out, I'm throwing very small weights—say, a ¼- to ½-ounce—just to get the baits away from the boat. Some, I'm not using a weight at all; just a piece of cut bait on a circle hook and that's it. Sometimes, those early ice-out cats can be finicky or weight-sensitive. I would say, though, that over 90 percent of the time, I'm running a Santee Cooper rig, often with Whisker Seeker's Ultra-Chub float system. It's a hard-bodied float with rattling beads inside.

Q: What is your rod, reel, and line preference?

I have two favorite rods, depending on the situation. If I'm targeting channel cats at, say, Red Rock (an Iowa upground impoundment known for excellent catfishing) and the average size of those fish are between two to nine pounds, I'll run the Catfish and Carp rod with 20-pound mono. I do have some reels set up with 30-pound mono, and I run that where there are opportunities to catch (bigger) flatheads. The reels are Whisker Seeker 60 Series and Pro 60 Series baitcasters, and my lines are also from Whisker Seeker, which glow under the black light.

Q: You're primarily a catch-and-release angler, Jimmi, though your clients will occasionally keep some smaller cats to eat. Is conservation with a species like channel cats important? Is releasing those bigger fish a good thing?

Absolutely. And the reason is that it takes so long for a channel cat to grow big. They don't grow as fast as a bluegill or crappie or bass. And my customers know that when they call for information. Is this a catch-and-release trip? Would you like to take fish home? Realistically, though, very few of my customers keep their fish.

Rare Fishing Cat At Manx Wildlife Park Dies

A rare fishing cat that was a "favourite with staff, volunteers and visitors" at a zoo on the Isle of Man has died, keepers have said.

The feline, who was more than 12 years old, was one of two of the cats housed at the Curraghs Wildlife Park.

Keepers said the average lifespan for the species was between 10 and 12 years and the male fishing cat, named Benny, had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis last year.

A spokeswoman for the park said the animal would "still be missed" despite reaching "a good age".

In a post on Facebook, keepers said Benny had been receiving pain relief for his condition but "suddenly went off his food" last week and died "before an investigative aesthesia could be done".

The remaining fishing cat at the park, a female named Diane, was also about 12 years old the spokeswoman said.

It was hoped the studbook for the European Endangered Species would be able to identify "some younger cats ready to leave their parents" and be relocated to as the Ballaugh park, she said.

"We would really like to continue with this endangered species," she added.

Native to Asia, fishing cats can be found in the wild in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The animals are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The species remains under threat from a loss of wetland habitat, water pollution and pesticide poisoning.

In 2021 the park's conservation fund contributed over £3,500 to the Urban Fishing Cat Project, which monitors and protects the species in Sri Lanka.

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