The reproduction of Fishing Cats is increasing in the artificial Conservation in Kolkata, India
By Adnan Tazvir
To increase the population of the Fishing cat, a conservation center by creating artificial jungles and reservoirs at Zoological Garden, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal. They look a lot like tigers. So many times, people in their area kill them as thinking as tigers.
Although they do not eat humans or poultry, cows, and goats. These animals are usually eating only fish, crabs, snails, frogs, etc. That is why they are also called ‘fishing cats.’
But this animal of Bengal is on the verge of extinction. Fishing Cats are not seen anywhere except Bengal. Although they look like tigers, they are much smaller. They are generally two feet high and three feet long.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed Fishing Cats as endangered species. It can now only see in a few places in the state like East Kolkata Reservoir, Hooghly, Amta, and Henry Island in South 24 Parganas, Weast Bengal, and most parts in Bangladesh, including its northern zone.
Breeding is being done to save the endangered Fishing Cats. For the Conservation of this endangered animal, an artificial environment has been created inside the Alipoor Zoo at Kolkata. There are 12 Fishing cats at the Zoo, now. Of these, three females and three males have already been kept in separate cages for breeding.
Ashish Kumar Samanta, director of Alipoor Zoo, said, “Fishing cats were almost extinct. Therefore, It has undertaking to conserve this by increasing its breeding. Now is the time for wildlife breeding, and we have taken favorable initiative for their breeding. Fishing cats usually live in bushes.”
“They live near water bodies as they eat fish, frogs, snails, and crabs. That is why artificial jungles and water bodies have been created in the Zoo to breed Fishing Cats. Three pairs of tigers have been kept separate for breeding. They will live in this artificial environment,” he added.
“CCTV cameras have has installed to monitor them. There is a veterinarian who is working 24 hours for this purpose. He said that the number of baby fishing cats after breeding would remain in the Zoo until childhood. Once their childhood is over, they will be freeing in their environment, He also informed.
