ANIMAL: Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus Type of Animal: Feline Habitat: Swamps, marshland, oxbow lakes, reed beds, tidal creeks, mangroves, rivers, streams, dense grassland, tropical/subtropical forest, scrub Location(s): Densely vegetated areas of S.W. India & Sri Lanka through S. Himalayas to Bangladesh, Burma, Indochina, & S.E. China. Also found in Java & Sumatra. Almost always found near water. Appearance: Fairly stocky build, olive-gray coloration w/ blackish rows of spots along w/ some stripes & short tail, somewhat short legs, males have squarer head than females, otherwise sexes look very similar. Food/Diet: Fish, snails, crabs, crayfish, snakes, frogs, toads, birds, domestic dogs, domestic calves, domestic goats, domestic piglets, chital fawns, civets, rodents, rabbits, hares, primates, otters, carrion, grass Status in Wild: Threatened Conservation: Breeding in zoos & wildlife centers Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male-Tom Female-Queen Young-Kitten Group-Solitary Weight: Male-18-31 lbs Female-11-20 lbs Young-2-2.25 lbs Gestation: 2 months Height: 1.16 ft Body Length: Male-2.3 ft Female-2.2 ft Life Span: 10 years in wild, 12 years in captivity Tail Length: Male- 0.76-1.15 ft Female- 0.73-1.1 ft Main predators are crocodiles & large pythons. Threatened due to habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, pet trade, human encroachment, deforestation, hunting for fur, & persecution as a killer of goats, poultry, & calves. Kittens leave mom at age of 10 months. They’re very territorial & fights sometimes result in death. To attract fish, they tap the surface of the water. Territory marked w/ urine & spray. Like many cats, they’re nocturnal. They’re known to be very elusive. Fun Fact(s): DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THEIR CUTE APPEARANCE-There have been several documented cases of mothers w/ kittens driving off packs of dogs & severely injuring humans. In one instance, a large male got through a partition and killed a female leopard in a neighboring enclosure.
