The Fishing cat, Bengal's state animal once common in the wetlands of Howrah and Hoogly, is staring at an uncertain future due to rapid habitat destruction for agriculture activities and industries. A recent study revealed the animal, declared 'endangered' in the IUCN red list , may have become locally extinct in Hoogly.
A study conducted by a city-based wildlife biologist between January and June 2014 over more than 14000sq km in Howrah also said that some of the last remaining patches of ideal fishing cat habitat here are speedily shrinking.
There were reports of 27 fishinng cats killing in 16 months from the same study site - Shyampur, Bugnan, Amta, Bali, Domjur and Dankuni - due to conflict with locals.
According to the researcher most of the kills about 16 happened in Uluberia because the marshlands there are rapidly being converted into brick fields for supply to kolkata.
Source: Time of India
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