Fishing Cat Action Plan
Fishing cats are a threatened species that prefers to live near water sources, bringing them into close proximity with humans outside of protected areas in Thailand. As a carnivore, fishing cats have come into fatal conflicts with humans over fish and domestic chickens, which is exacerbated by the fact that law enforcement doesn’t have a strong presence outside of protected areas. To mitigate these threats and foster co-existence with local communities, we've implemented a comprehensive five-year plan that involves collaring a dozen fishing cats, strategically placing motion-activated cameras near waterways, fortified chicken coops and introduced local schools to conservation activities that highlight fishing cats and other vital wildlife. Our focus for the next year centers on the critical issue of land use and we are committed to collaborating with local communities to explore better, sustainable alternatives to selling land to developers. Protecting fishing cats not only helps ensure a future for this rare but important species, but also safeguards these fragile wetland ecosystems.