Persecution, rescue and release of globally vulnerable fishing cats in human-dominated landscapes of Bangladesh

Human persecution of the Fishing cat ( Prionailurus viverrinus ) frequently occurs across densely populated landscapes of northeastern Bangladesh. This often leads to the intentional or incidental capture, injury or killing of this small felid by local communities. Between January 2020 and June 2024, we have recorded 63 incidents involving 93 individuals of Fishing cats through field surveys, incident monitoring, and rescue operations. The frequency of incidents peaked during the winter months, with 55 % occurring in December and January. Moulvibazar District was identified as the primary hotspot (38 %), with the highest number of incidents concentrated in its Sadar Upazila (sub-district). Intentional capture using baited metal cage accounted for 45 % of incidents. Among the rescued individuals, 59 % were adults comprising 19 % males, 16 % females, while the sex of the remaining individuals was undetermined. A total of 76 individuals (88 %) were successfully released, with 62 % of released kittens subsequently retrieved by its mothers. Our findings highlight the urgent need for rapid response mechanisms and community engagement to reduce mortality, and demonstrate that a site-based rescue and release approach can be an effective short-term conservation measure until long-term threat reduction strategies are established.