AS a country rich in biodiversity, Pakistan is home to a diverse array of species. This includes members of the ‘felidae’ or wildcat family. Ten species of wildcats — comprising 25 per cent of the global felid variety — are found in Pakistan, including two large cats, the snow leopard and the common leopard, as well as eight medium and small-sized cats.

Unfortunately, these wildcats are often overlooked in conservation efforts and remain significantly understudied in the country. Among these lesser-known felines is the fishing cat prionailurus vivverinus, a unique species found in the region.

Unlike other felines, this species is closely associated with wetland habitats, and, unlike any other feline, is known for its ability to hunt underwater.

Few people realise that this enigmatic cat also inhabits Pakistan, though its numbers have dwindled due to wetland destruction, poaching, and competition with fish farmers.

Today, the fishing cat is found in only a few scattered locations within the wetlands of Sindh, with Keenjhar and Haleji lakes in Thatta serving as its main strongholds.

Recently, while searching for records of this species in Pakistan, I came across a Facebook post by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department.

The post featured images of animals rescued from a truck that were being illegally transported to a circus in Lahore. One image, labelled as a ‘leopard cat’, another small wildcat found in the Himalayan foothills of Pakistan, caught my attention. Upon closer inspection, I suspected that it was not a leopard cat, but a fishing cat.

The stark differences between the two species are apparent to anyone familiar with wildlife. While it is a matter of relief to see the wildlife department recover this endangered cat, I am concerned that the species has been misidentified. Sadly, fishing cats, like many other rare animals, have historically been victims of the circus trade.

It was heart-breaking to see an already endangered species subjected to a life of misery in a small cage.

Additionally, it is crucial for both the people and the government to raise awareness in this regard to foster a sense of pride among local communities.

As such, Pakistan is one of the few countries blessed with such a wide variety of carnivores, yet many species of them, including cheetah, lion and tiger, have already gone extinct here.

If we are to prevent the same fate from befalling the remaining species, the only way forward is by actively increasing conservation and research efforts.

Ahmad Hassan
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024