Baripada: Forest department officials in Mayurbhanj district successfully rescued an endangered fishing cat from a canal near Kanialuka village under the Deuli forest range on Thursday.
According to reports, the rescue operation began after villagers spotted the wild cat struggling in the canal and informed the Forest Department. Acting swiftly, a team led by Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Rabi Narayan Mohanty from the Baripada forest division, along with a wildlife rescue team, reached the site and safely retrieved the fishing cat.
After being examined by veterinarians, it was confirmed that the animal was unharmed and in good health. Following the rescue, forest officials decided to transfer the fishing cat to Nandankanan Zoological Park near Bhubaneswar for its safety and conservation.
The fishing cat, a medium-sized wild cat species, is listed as “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, indicating a high risk of extinction in the wild.
It is also protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which grants it the highest level of legal protection in India. Additionally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists the fishing cat under Appendix II, regulating its international trade to prevent exploitation.
