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  • Fishing Cat

Fishing cat

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Fishing Cat Trail
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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

10 to 12 years

in the wild

Diet

Diet

Fish

frogs, shellfish and other small prey

Habitat

Habitat

Within 15km

of wetlands such as marshes, swamps and rivers

Range

Range

From India to South China

and the Sunda shelf region

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The fishing cats

Stealthy hunters

Stealthy hunters

Fishing cats are known to spend long periods of time stalking fish by the water’s edge. To hasten the process, they may lightly paw the water surface to imitate insect movements. Fish hoping to make a meal of an insect end up as a meal for the cats when they swim too close.

Plunging into the water with lightning speed, the cats expertly grab their slippery prey with their partially-webbed paws. They have also been observed to seize ducks by swimming underwater.

Spots and stripes

Spots and stripes

The fishing cat’s olive-grey coat is marked by distinct patterns. Six to eight black lines run from the forehead to the neck, breaking up into shorter lines and spots on the shoulders.

Markings above the eyes are vertical while those emerging from the edges of the eyes are horizontal. Our pair of fishing cat sisters look very similar but you can tell them apart by zooming in on the whiskered parts of their cheeks. Latika has a striped pattern while Lalita has spots.

Together, we protect wildlife

Troubled waters

Troubled waters

Affected by pollution and over-exploitation, an estimated 50% of Southeast Asian wetlands are disappearing. We can choose products that support better use of the land.

Let’s reduce pollution and support eco-friendly fishing and farming ideas to ensure fishing cats always have a wetland to call home.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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Every visit to our parks comes with

Every visit to our parks comes with
Find out how, together, we're creating a better future for wildlife and the planet.

Opening hours

6.30pm to 12am (Last entry at 11.15pm)

We're open every day of the year.

Address

80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826

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