The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a globally threatened small cat species with a discontinuous distribution in South and Southeast Asia. In Nepal, fishing cats are distributed in the lowland Terai region, with records from five protected areas: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Parsa National Park, Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, and Shuklaphanta National Park. Outside protected areas, they are also known from natural wetlands and fish ponds in the districts of Bara, Nawalparasi, and Kapilvastu. The fishing cat is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List globally, Endangered nationally, and is listed under Appendix II of CITES. While the total population size remains unknown, the species is believed to have a decreasing population trend across its range.
Although fishing cats are confirmed to inhabit Nepal’s lowland region, scientific studies on the species are very limited. Conservation efforts are underway but are inadequate to cover all its range areas. In this light, this project aims to explore the status of fishing cats, assess threats, and initiate conservation activities in Parasi district (Nawalparasi West). Despite confirmed fishing cat presence, this district has seen a notable absence of efforts to understand and address the challenges faced by the species in this region. This work will bridge gaps by providing new information on the local fishing cat population, identifying threats to their survival, and implementing targeted conservation interventions.
The project is financially supported byThe Rufford Foundation