Tinsukia: On February 22, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) will spearhead the observance of Fishing Cat Day, bringing into focus one of Assam’s most elusive yet ecologically significant wild felines — the Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus).
Held under the theme “Meseka Thrives, Floodplains Survive,” the programme aims to highlight the inseparable link between the survival of the species and the health of the Brahmaputra’s floodplain wetlands.
“If we lose the fishing cat, we do not just lose a species; we lose the living guardian of our wetlands. Saving Meseka means saving the very floodplains that sustain Assam’s people, wildlife and future,” said Ranjeeta Nayak, a Tinsukia-based nature enthusiast, speaking to Northeast Now on Friday.
The day-long observance will begin with a guided field visit for schoolchildren to understand the ecological importance of floodplain ecosystems. An art competition titled “Paint Your Meseka,” open to students of Classes VI to IX, will follow. The programme will also feature expert talks, a documentary screening, and the release of a conservation report and brochure. The event will conclude with a webinar and panel discussion examining the fishing cat’s role as a sentinel species for wetland health.
Slightly larger than a domestic cat and uniquely adapted to aquatic life with partially webbed feet, the fishing cat thrives in marshes, oxbow lakes and riverine grasslands. In Assam, its presence is closely tied to wetlands both within and beyond protected areas.
However, the species is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), primarily due to rapid habitat loss across its range.
In Assam, experts identify wetland degradation as the principal threat. Encroachment, agricultural expansion, aquaculture, infrastructure development and siltation have steadily fragmented natural marshlands. Because many fishing cats inhabit wetlands outside protected zones, the shrinking of community-managed water bodies poses a particularly serious conservation challenge.
The species also faces additional pressures, including declining fish stocks, accidental trapping, road mortality and occasional retaliatory killings arising from poultry predation. Shifting flood patterns in the Brahmaputra valley, influenced by climate variability, may further destabilise its habitat.
Conservationists emphasise that protecting the fishing cat ultimately means safeguarding Assam’s wetlands.
Organisers hope the observance will catalyse stronger research, greater policy attention and deeper community stewardship, ensuring that the survival of “Meseka” continues to signal the resilience of Assam’s floodplains.