Project Leader: Rupesh Maharjan
Location: Chitwan National Park
Funding & Supporting Partners: The Rufford Foundation, IDEA Wild, Nepal Tiger Trust, Terai Fishing Cat Project, NTNC, DNPWC, FCCA.
Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), also known as "Malaha Biralo" in the Nepali language, is known to exist in the wetlands of Chitwan National Park (CNP). These species have been listed in the "Vulnerable" category of the IUCN red list due to the decline in their population resulting from the shrinkage of wetland habitats. Moreover, the research and conservation of these species have been greatly undermined in comparison to other endangered species like Bengal Tiger and One-horned Rhinoceros.
To eliminate the research and conservation gap of the Fishing Cat in Nepal, we have started a Fishing Cat Conservation Project in Chitwan, partnering with several national and international conservation networks like Rufford Foundation, IDEA WILD, Terai Fishing Cat Project and FCCA. So far, we have carried out our Fishing Cat research in several wetland areas of CNP, using camera traps and sign survey methods and managed to capture images of Fishing Cats from different locations. Based on the preliminary research analyses, we have devised long-term Fishing Cat conservation programs. As a part of the project, we've been conducting both community and school level awareness campaigns in the buffer zone areas of the CNP. Until now, the project has given wildlife monitoring and conservation training to more than 20 personnel from different conservation groups and carried out awareness campaigns in more than 9 community schools. With this conservation effort, we are able to convey our conservation message to more than 500 households directly and indirectly and have also been able to gain their trust and support in our long-term fishing cat conservation activities.
