Conservation of the Fishing Cat: A Focus on India's Wetlands
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment & Ecology (Species in news, Protected Areas - National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Status - IUCN, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Wetland ecosystems), Geography (Wetlands, Lakes like Chilka, River Estuaries).
Mains: GS Paper 3 (Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Biodiversity).
Key Highlights from the News
Main Topic: The article discusses the Fishing Cat, a lesser-known wild animal found in Indian wetlands.
Main Characteristics:
It is twice the size of a domestic cat and an apex predator in its habitat.
It has special physical adaptations for aquatic life, such as partially webbed paws.
Habitat: Their main habitat is wetland ecosystems, such as mangroves, swamps, and riverbanks.
Distribution in India: They are found scattered in the terai region of the Himalayan foothills, swamps in western India, the Sundarbans, and the eastern coast. Their population is healthy in Chilka Lake in Odisha.
Threats Faced:
Habitat loss: Destruction of wetlands is the main threat.
Human-wildlife conflict: Humans kill them for preying on fish ponds and chicken coops.
Conservation Efforts:
Camera traps are used to monitor wildlife.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has launched a new study using GPS collars in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh.
The article states that Community-based conservation is crucial for protecting this animal.
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