The Garchumuk Zoological Garden in Kolkata’s Howrah has initiated a crucial program for the protection and conservation of the fishing cat, a vulnerable species that holds significance as West Bengal’s State animal, known as Baghrol in Bangla.
The State Forest Minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, made this announcement, stating that the program would extend to places like Bankura and Jhargram in the southern and northern regions of the state. If successful, the plan aims to reintroduce six to eight pairs of fishing cats into their natural habitat by 2024.
Conservation breeding programs are vital to prevent the complete collapse of species populations in the wild. Factors like industrialization, poaching, climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation contribute to their decline. This initiative aims to conserve genetic diversity and gradually reintroduce the animals into their natural habitat for self-sustaining populations.
A study is underway to identify suitable release locations for captive-born animals, ensuring minimal human interference. The chosen release site based on the study is Jharkhali in the Sundarbans, and similar assessments have been conducted in various other regions.
The fishing cat, native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of southeast Asia, thrives in wet conditions. Designated as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, fishing cats face a high risk of extinction due to a rapid decline in their population.
