The endangered fishing cat spotted at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Spreads across 235 square kilometres, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), India’s second-largest mangroves, is home to the endangered fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus.
The sanctuary is part of the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa river confluences into the Bay of Bengal in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh.
By 2018, the population of fishing cats was 115, as per the first survey of fishing cats. The number, however, has increased significantly over the past five years, given the frequency of sightings of the species recorded across and near the sanctuary.
Coringa Wildlife Ranger S.S.R. Vara Prasad told The Hindu that the rise in the population of the fishing cats in the sanctuary can be attributed to the healthy mangrove ecosystem, which is being conserved by the local communities.
As many as 420 locals have been formed into the Environment Development Committee (EDC), which is tasked with monitoring and conserving the sanctuary and operating the Community-Based Eco-Tourism (CBET) facilities for an alternative livelihood.
“The Coringa lighthouse point is one of the safest habitats where the number of fishing cats is growing significantly. fishing cats’ movements have been recorded on the boardwalk at the lighthouse,” claims Mr. Vara Prasad.
It is interesting to note that in Andhra Pradesh, Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Krishna estuarine forest area, is another place where these endangered cat species live.
Country’s First Colloring Project
The second census of the fishing cat is expected to be completed within a few weeks. The ongoing fishing cat census is part of India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project carried out under the aegis of the Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun.
By 2018, the population of fishing cats was 115, as per the first survey of fishing cats in India.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The three-year collaring project aims to study the species’ home range, behaviour, habitat ecology, feeding habits, and space use. Yanam-based Vedanta Limited has granted ₹74 lakh for the project, and ₹45 lakh has already been released.
Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife-Rajahmundry) B.N.N. Murthy told The Hindu: “The colloring of the fishing cats is likely to be completed by March or April 2025. The census done for the collaring project is almost finished.”
According to the Forest Department, 10 fishing cats will be captured and collared with lightweight equipment containing the Geographical Information System (GIS).
It may be recalled that in an interview with The Hindu in 2021, Dr. Bilal Habib, Principal Investigator of the Fishing Cat Collaring Project, said: “The collaring project looks at the fishing cat estimate, collaring, and studying how the wildlife is surviving in the sanctuary.”
Role of communities
The EDCs have been reaping profits from the CBET initiatives within the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary. “In October, we released ₹40 lakh to the 20 Environment Development Committees (EDCs), which are bound to spend the fund on the welfare and infrastructure facilities of the community in the village. The revenue generated from tourism activities will be shared with the EDCs,” says Mr. Vara Prasad.
The EDCs play a significant role in preventing the destruction of mangroves, the felling of trees, and vigil on the illegal distillation of arrack in the mangrove ecosystem.
In recent years, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary emerged as one of the major and unique tourist destinations. It offers a speed boat service and a walking board through the mangroves for some kilometres up to the waterfront.
Tourists can also reach Hope Island by boat from the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is 15 kilometres away from the district headquarters of Kakinada City. The sanctuary is also home to the Indian smooth-coated otter, which can be sighted throughout the year.
On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh State Forest Department has been striving to get ‘Ramsar Convention Site’ status for the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, given its rich diversity and ecosystem.
Published – December 27, 2024 10:52 pm IST
