![]() Maybe that’s why they’re one of the least understood of the world’s wild cats. Their solitary, nocturnal lives make them difficult for humans to spot in the wild, so not much is known about their behavior. Their paws are partially webbed to help them propel through the water and for prowling on muddy, marshy land. Living primarily in the waterlogged wetlands and mangrove forests of South and Southeast Asia, they’re agile swimmers (unlike most cats). While it’s not yet well documented, fishing cats are thought to lure fish by gently touching the water’s surface to imitate landing insects. In addition to hunting fish, these cats also prey on reptiles, amphibians, aquatic birds and other small animals. The elusive fishing cat is, as far as researchers know, one of the the world’s only wild cats that is specifically adapted to wetland environments. It’s kind of like a tiger, but weighing an average of 20 pounds (or 9 kilos), it’s a whole lot smaller. A fishing cat holding a dog-faced water snake. Here, Naidu - CEO of the Fishing Cat Conservancy and a TED Fellow - shares why fishing cats and mangroves forests are so important to our planet - and his organization’s ambitious plans to save them both. He is hoping that fishing cats - little-known, endangered, wetland-dwelling felines like the one shown above - grab our attention and galvanize us caring about their habitats - the fast-disappearing but ecologically valuable mangrove forest habitats. It’s something that conservationist and entrepreneur Ashwin Naidu is counting on. ![]() ![]() It’s a fact: Dangle a cat video in front of almost anyone, and they’ll drop everything to watch it.
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