Protect Fishing Cats in Bangladesh

Progress Report: Save the Fishing Cat

By: Anisur Rahman | Project Coordinator

Reporting Period: August 2025 – December 2025
Organization: Green Fund Initiative (GFI), New York, USA
Local Partner in Bangladesh: Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation and Social Services Centre (BCSSC)

Project Overview

The “Join the Fight to Save the Fishing Cat” initiative is a collaborative effort by Green Fund Initiative (GFI) and BCSSC to protect the endangered Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Bangladesh. The project focuses on raising awareness, strengthening community stewardship, and reducing human–wildlife conflict in wetland-dependent communities where Fishing Cats are increasingly at risk due to habitat loss and persecution.

Progress During the Reporting Period (August – December 2025)Funding Status

During this reporting period, the project received only a small donation, which was insufficient to launch full-scale conservation or research activities. Despite this constraint, GFI and BCSSC prioritized community engagement and volunteer capacity-building to sustain momentum in the project area.

Key Activities and Achievements1. Community Engagement and Awareness

With limited financial resources, the project successfully conducted:

• 2 community meetings in the project area, organized jointly by GFI and BCSSC

  • Participants included local residents, farmers, and youth

  • Discussions focused on:

    • The ecological importance of the Fishing Cat

    • Causes of human–wildlife conflict

    • Practical steps communities can take to reduce harm to both people and wildlife

These meetings helped maintain community interest and reinforced trust between conservation actors and local stakeholders.

2. Volunteer Sensitization Program

• 1 volunteer sensitization program was conducted for local volunteers

• The session covered:

  • Fishing Cat conservation challenges

  • Ethical wildlife response and reporting

  • Community-based awareness techniques

This activity strengthened local volunteer capacity and ensured continued grassroots engagement despite funding limitations.

3. Partnership and Coordination

• Continued close coordination with BCSSC to plan low-cost, high-impact activities

• Maintained informal communication with community leaders, who reaffirmed their willingness to support conservation efforts once adequate funding becomes available

Challenges

• Limited funding restricted the scale and frequency of activities

• Inability to conduct:

  • Formal habitat monitoring

  • Scientific research

  • Conflict-mitigation interventions (e.g., poultry protection measures)

Conclusion

Despite receiving only a small donation during August–December 2025, Green Fund Initiative and BCSSC remained committed to the Save the Fishing Cat project. Through 2 community meetings and 1 volunteer sensitization program, the project sustained community awareness, strengthened volunteer engagement, and preserved local partnerships.

These efforts demonstrate the project’s resilience and community support, even under financial constraints. With adequate funding, the initiative is well-positioned to scale up awareness activities, implement conflict-mitigation measures, and contribute meaningfully to the long-term conservation of Fishing Cats in Bangladesh.

Links:

• Youtube Viedo

Reporting Period: May 2025 – August 2025
Organization: Green Fund Initiative (GFI), New York, USA
Local Partner in Bangladesh: Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation and Social Services Centre (BCSSC)

Project Overview

The "Join the Fight to Save the Fishing Cat" initiative, led by the Green Fund Initiative (GFI) in collaboration with BCSSC, is dedicated to conserving the endangered Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Bangladesh. The project seeks to address threats such as wetland habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict through awareness, monitoring, and partnership with local communities and government institutions.

Achievements During the Reporting Period (May – August 2025)1. Awareness and Community Engagement

• Volunteer-Led Campaigns: Despite the absence of project funding, GFI and BCSSC mobilized local volunteers to conduct 4 awareness campaigns across the project area.

• Community Outreach:

  • 60 households reached through door-to-door visits and interactive discussions.

  • 3 small group meetings organized with community members, including farmers and youth, focusing on reducing human-wildlife conflict.

  • 25 schoolchildren engaged in an informal awareness session highlighting the importance of Fishing Cats and wetland ecosystems.

• Volunteer Contribution: A total of 120 volunteer hours were dedicated to community education activities during this reporting period.

2. Rescue and Habitat Monitoring

• Habitat Observations: Volunteer teams conducted 8 informal habitat monitoring visits in wetland areas of the project site. Evidence of Fishing Cat presence (tracks and scat) was documented in 3 sites, confirming continued occupancy of the species.

• Rescue Operations: No new rescues occurred during this period; however, the community remains alert and ready to report sightings or incidents.

3. Partnership and Advocacy

• Government Engagement: Maintained dialogue with the Bangladesh Forest Department. Preliminary discussions were held regarding potential collaboration on habitat protection and stricter enforcement against poaching.

• Local Partnerships: Strengthened collaboration with village-level community leaders, who expressed willingness to support conservation activities if funding is secured.

Challenges Faced

• Funding Limitations: No external funding was secured during this reporting period, which restricted formal research, habitat restoration, and broader conservation programming.

• Sustained Human-Wildlife Conflict: Reports of Fishing Cats preying on domestic poultry continue to cause tension. Limited resources prevent implementation of practical conflict-mitigation measures (e.g., livestock enclosures, compensation schemes).

Conclusion

Although constrained by a lack of funding, the project achieved tangible, community-level results during May–August 2025. With 4 awareness campaigns, 60 households engaged, 25 schoolchildren educated, and 120 volunteer hours contributed, GFI and BCSSC demonstrated that conservation progress is possible even with minimal resources.

Looking forward, the project aims to secure financial support to:

1. Expand community outreach to at least 300 households annually,

2. Conduct systematic scientific research on Fishing Cat populations, and

3. Implement conflict-mitigation measures to reduce threats to both Fishing Cats and local livelihoods.

These grassroots successes underscore the project’s potential for scaling up and ensuring the long-term survival of Fishing Cats in Bangladesh.

Links:

• Youtube Video