In a rare and exciting development for wildlife conservation in Punjab, kittens of the endangered Indian Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) have been discovered at a remote farm near a forested area in Hoshiarpur district. The sighting has stirred excitement among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, as the elusive species is not commonly found in this region.
Typically found in wetlands, marshy areas, swamplands and coastal deltas due to its diet of fish, amphibians, snakes, and birds, the Fishing Cat’s presence in Punjab—a state with limited such habitats—is considered highly unusual. The last confirmed sighting in the region was nearly eight years ago.
Classified as 'Vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Indian Fishing Cat faces significant threats from habitat loss and environmental degradation. Conservationists view this discovery as both a hopeful sign and a critical reminder of the need to protect remaining wetland ecosystems.
Experts are now calling for immediate ecological assessment and habitat preservation efforts to ensure the safety and survival of this rare feline species in Punjab.
Three kittens of the elusive Fishing Cat were spotted at a farm located near a forested area along the Hoshiarpur-Rupnagar district border in Punjab. The young felines were found close to a water body at the end of April, and wildlife activists chose to keep the location confidential for several days to ensure the mother and kittens could safely move to a more secure habitat.
Fishing Cats are typically found in the floodplains of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra rivers, with the wetlands of West Bengal’s Sunderbans considered their most suitable and thriving habitat.
Timely intervention by a village sarpanch and alert wildlife activists helped protect three rare Fishing Cat kittens, which otherwise could have been susceptible to be targeted by villagers. The kittens were initially thought to be leopard cubs, prompting over 100 curious and anxious villagers to gather at the farm where they were discovered.
Recognising the potential danger, the sarpanch quickly stepped in, dispersing the crowd to avoid any harm or chaos. Photos of the kittens were then shared with a wildlife activist, who confirmed they were not leopard cubs but the offspring of the endangered Fishing Cat — a significant and rare sighting in Punjab.
According to Gaurav Rana, who is a social activist: “The said farm has a water body bordering the forest which is often used by animals, especially in this season. Three kittens were found near this water body. Everyone got worked up as villagers earlier thought they were leopard cubs. We were almost planning to feed them milk. But wildlife activist Nikhil Senger confirmed that these were Indian Fishing Cats and should be fed nothing other than cereal mixed with water. We were asked to place them back where they were found — feed them cerelac diluted with water for the night and leave them.”
Rana said labourers stood watch at a safe distance for hours, to oversee the kittens were not attacked, and around 2 am, the mother of the cubs took them away.
“Fishing Cat kittens were last found seven to eight years ago, those too were at a farm near a pond. After that, this is the first time they have been seen in Punjab. Our entire purpose was to ensure the kittens are reunited with the mother as they are bred on a wetland diet and wouldn’t have survived on a farm. This is a very heartening discovery, which gives hope, especially given the stress on wildlife habitats and the status of the fishing cat in India. This also means we have to learn more about the biodiversity in the region to aide better sustainability,” wildlife conservationist and former Honorary Wildlife Warden, Nawanshahr, Nikhil Senger said.
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