Anyone who thinks cats hate water has clearly never met a fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). These midsized (5–17 kg) South and Southeast Asian cats seem as at home in water as they are on land, capable of swimming long distances both at and below the surface. In captivity, they start playing in water as young as two months old, and when fully grown, about three-quarters of their diet comes from fish.
Unfortunately for these unique cats, the wetlands they rely on are disappearing, and many of those that remain are polluted or claimed by people, who see the cats as competitors for caught and aquacultured fishes. In one study in Thailand, for instance, 84 percent of fishing cats that were outfitted and tracked with radio collars ended up getting killed.
Because of the myriad threats facing the felines, captive breeding programs have been established around the world. And that’s what ...
