The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

Conservation Measures in Place
Government of Nepal’s Sacred Himalayan Landscape
Programme. The Snow Leopard is considered as
one of the mountain deities by the Sherpas. This
religious belief is encouraging for the long-term
survival of Snow Leopards in Sagarmatha, as there
is unlikely to be retribution when livestock are
depredated.
Conservation Recommendations
i) Establish Snow Leopard population status and
distribution.
ii) Obtain baseline information on the ecology,
behaviour and ranging patterns of the species
through the use of camera traps and GPS satellite
collars.
iii) Obtain baseline information on the food habits;
Establish status and distribution of the major prey
species.
iv) Improve management of prey species through
establishing optimal mixed grazing systems.
v) Create livestock free zones in species priority areas
to improve habitats (removing grazing competition
for prey species and human-carnivore conflict).
vi) Conduct awareness programmes among the
communities residing in the species range.
vii) Support livestock herders in making livestock
pen/corrals predator proof.
viii) Develop livestock compensation schemes to
mitigate human-Snow Leopard conflict.
ix) Train and mobilise local community members
to control carcass poisoning.
x) Incorporate species range outside protected
areas in management plans.
xi) Establish trans-boundary protected areas.
References
Roberts 1977, Schaller 1977, Jackson 1979, Fox 1989, Jackson and Ahlborn 1990, Gunderson 1999, Mishra et
al. 2003 (and references therein), Ale and Karky 2002, Ernst 2003, McCarthy et al. 2003, DNPWC 2004, Gurung
and Thapa 2004, Chetri 2005a, Ale et al. 2007, Dr S. M. Amatya (pers. comm.) 2009, Lovari et al. 2009, Kamal
Thapa (pers. comm.) 2010, Rinjan Shrestha (pers. comm.) 2010, WWF-Nepal 2010.
40) Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833)
Common Names
Fishing Cat (English); Malaha Biralo (Nepali)
Species Description
Larger than the Leopard and Jungle Cats. The
Fishing Cat has an olive brown coat, short legs and
stocky body. Black elongated spots in parallel lines
over the back, merging into longitudinal stripes on
the neck, pale cheeks have two darker stripes.
Species Ecology
The Fishing Cat is commonly found in wetlands,
marshy grasslands and riveriene belts and edges
of lakes. Fishing Cats are good swimmers and prey
primarily on fish but will also feed on birds, crabs
and small mammals. They are capable of taking
large mammal prey, including small Chital fawns
and have been seen scavenging livestock carcasses
and tiger kills.
The gestation period is 63 days, after which the
female gives birth to one to four kittens.
Conservation Status
Global: Endangered A2cd+4cd
National: Endangered C2a(i); D1
Rationale for assessment: The Fishing Cat
76