Fishing cat conservation alliance
The Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance (FCCA)
The Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance is a charitable organisation which aims to protect functioning floodplains and coastal ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia. This will secure wild fishing cat populations and all species with which also live within the ecosystems. FCCA conduct scientific research on the ecological needs of fishing cats as well as working with local communities who share a home with wild fishing cats to better improve human and fishing cat coexistence.
FCCA Projects
One of FCCA’s longest running programmes is The Fishing Cat Project. The project has been ongoing since 2010 and its research solely focuses on fishing cats inhabiting West Bengal and Odisha, India. With consistent efforts from conservationists, they were able to meet a large community outreach and government lobbying boosted the fishing cat’s visibility within the states. In 2012, the fishing cat was declared as the State Animal of West Bengal leading to greater awareness, wider acceptance, and protection of the fishing cat.
The FCCA has an ongoing conservation project within Pakistan which focuses upon creating an understanding of the fishing cat’s distribution and status in the country. Which will allow the establishment of an in-situ threat reduction program to secure the species population. The FCCA work closely with the local community and often have the community members become primary investigators for cruelty against fishing cats in Pakistan, working closely with the Sindh Wildlife Department. The community members keep the FCCA informed of exploit use of fishing cats for exotic wildlife exhibition and trade so they can combat challenges as a team.
The Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance also has on going conservation projects based within Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Java. All of which involve local community members to raise awareness of the species.
Fishing Cat February
Wetland habitats, mangroves and marshlands are under threat globally, which is caused by urbanisation and the high demand of space for farming. This is causing many species who inhabit these areas to decline in population, such as the fishing cat which is now a registered Vulnerable species to extinction on the IUCN Red List. To raise awareness of protecting these habitats there is an annual World Wetland Day on 2nd February. This date inspired the FCCA to start a campaign called Fishing Cat February. During the month of February, the FCCA raises awareness around the world about Fishing Cats. Their aim it to inspire people to participate in sustainability which in turn can help to protect wetland ecosystems and all species the habitat supports.
To find learn more about Fishing Cat February and the work FCCA do, visit their website by clicking their logo below.
