Protect Fishing Cats in Bangladesh

Progress Report: Save the Fishing Cat

By Md. Anisur Rahman | Project Coordinator

Reporting Period: May 2026 – August 17, 2026
Organization: Green Fund Initiative (GFI), New York, USA
Local Partner in Bangladesh: Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation and Social Services Centre (BCSSC)
Project: Join the Fight to Save the Fishing Cat

Project Overview

The “Join the Fight to Save the Fishing Cat” initiative is a collaborative conservation effort of Green Fund Initiative (GFI) and the Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation and Social Services Centre (BCSSC) to protect the endangered Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and its wetland habitats in Bangladesh.

The project focuses on increasing public awareness, reducing human–wildlife conflict, strengthening community participation, and encouraging local support for the conservation of Fishing Cats and wetland ecosystems.

During this reporting period, the project continued to face significant financial constraints. No new project funding was received during May–August 17, 2026. Despite this limitation, GFI used its own organizational resources to maintain conservation awareness activities in the project area in collaboration with BCSSC and the Bangladesh Forest Department.

Progress During the Reporting Period1. Continued Community Awareness Campaigns

Despite the absence of new project funding, GFI and BCSSC continued awareness activities in the project area.

Several community-based awareness activities were conducted with participation and cooperation from local stakeholders. The activities focused on increasing understanding of Fishing Cats, their ecological importance, threats to their survival, and the importance of protecting wetland habitats.

The awareness campaign included:

• Public announcements and miking in the project area to reach local residents
• Direct interaction with local community members
• Discussions with government officials and local authorities
• Awareness sessions and discussions with school children
• Engagement with teachers and parents
• Community-level discussions about Fishing Cat conservation and human–wildlife coexistence
• Display of awareness posters in major public locations throughout the project area

These activities helped bring the conservation message directly to communities living in and around Fishing Cat habitats.

2. Collaboration with the Bangladesh Forest Department

GFI and BCSSC continued to work with the Bangladesh Forest Department during the reporting period.

Interactions with government officials helped strengthen coordination between conservation organizations, government agencies, and local communities. Discussions focused on the importance of protecting Fishing Cats, preserving wetland habitats, and encouraging local communities to support wildlife conservation.

The collaboration also helped reinforce the message that Fishing Cat conservation requires cooperation among government agencies, conservation organizations, schools, and local communities.

3. Engagement with Schools, Children, Teachers and Parents

School children were an important focus of the awareness activities.

GFI and BCSSC engaged with students, teachers, and parents to introduce the importance of Fishing Cats and biodiversity conservation. Discussions emphasized that wildlife conservation is not only the responsibility of government or conservation organizations but also requires participation from local communities and younger generations.

Engaging children at an early age can help develop long-term awareness and positive attitudes toward wildlife and nature conservation.

4. Public Awareness Through Posters and Miking

To reach a wider audience beyond formal meetings and school activities, the project used public miking and posters as low-cost awareness tools.

Posters were placed at important and visible locations in the project area to communicate conservation messages to residents and visitors. Public announcements helped reach people who might not otherwise participate in formal awareness meetings.

These approaches allowed the project to maintain a visible conservation presence despite very limited financial resources.

Impact and Early Outcomes

Although the project did not receive additional funding during this reporting period, the continued activities produced several important outcomes:

• Increased public exposure to Fishing Cat conservation messages
• Greater engagement with local communities living near potential Fishing Cat habitats
• Increased interaction between conservation organizations and government officials
• Engagement of school children, teachers and parents in wildlife conservation discussions
• Strengthened collaboration between GFI, BCSSC and the Bangladesh Forest Department
• Increased visibility of Fishing Cat conservation through posters and public announcements
• Continued community awareness about the importance of protecting wetlands and wildlife
• Maintained momentum for the project despite significant financial limitations

These activities represent important groundwork for future conservation interventions, particularly community-based conflict reduction, habitat protection, wildlife rescue and monitoring.

Challenges

The project continues to face significant financial challenges.

No new project funding was received during May–August 17, 2026, limiting the ability of GFI and its partners to implement the project's larger planned activities.

Key challenges include:

• Insufficient funding for sustained conservation activities
• Limited resources for scientific research and Fishing Cat population monitoring
• Inability to implement larger-scale habitat protection initiatives
• Limited capacity for structured human–wildlife conflict mitigation
• Limited resources for rescue, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation of injured or captured Fishing Cats
• Difficulty expanding community outreach to additional areas

Despite these challenges, GFI and BCSSC continued awareness activities using available organizational resources.

Next Steps

With additional funding, GFI and BCSSC plan to strengthen the project through:

• Expanding community awareness and education programs
• Increasing engagement with local schools and communities
• Training community volunteers to support Fishing Cat conservation
• Strengthening cooperation with the Bangladesh Forest Department and other government agencies
• Developing community-based approaches to reduce human–wildlife conflict
• Supporting rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of Fishing Cats when necessary
• Promoting protection of important wetland habitats
• Exploring opportunities for monitoring Fishing Cat populations and threats
• Expanding awareness campaigns into additional Fishing Cat habitat areas

Conclusion

During May–August 17, 2026, the Save the Fishing Cat project continued to make progress despite the absence of new project funding.

Using its own organizational resources, Green Fund Initiative, in collaboration with BCSSC and the Bangladesh Forest Department, conducted several awareness activities in the project area. Public miking, posters, community discussions, and interactions with government officials, school children, teachers, parents, and local residents helped maintain public attention on Fishing Cat conservation.

While these activities were necessarily limited in scale because of financial constraints, they helped strengthen local awareness, maintain partnerships, and establish a stronger foundation for future conservation work.

GFI and BCSSC remain committed to protecting Fishing Cats and the wetland ecosystems on which both wildlife and local communities depend. With increased donor support, the project can move beyond awareness activities and implement more comprehensive conservation, rescue, habitat protection, monitoring, and human–wildlife conflict mitigation measures.