Further Project Update: May 2010

On April 30th 2010 we captured a new male fishing cat to affix a radio collar. This cat was captured on the northern side of our study side, called Nong Pak Chee rice field. He’s about 6 years old, weighed 13 kg and was in good condition. The Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor has given the name to this male cat as “Sodsai” which means “bright and cheerful” to wish him the bright and cheerful future. The Governor then launched a speech during Sodsai's release press conference where he specifically asked people to help protect fishing cats. He also expressed an interest in making Prachuab Khiri Khan the Province that focuses on biodiversity conservation. The release went well and Sodsai finally got to go back to his refuge.

On May 1st 2010 we captured an additional male fishing cat on the south-eastern part of the national park. People thought that this fishing cat had been raiding chickens. We received the report of the raid and set up live-traps. On the third night we successfully trapped this cat. After immobilizing the cat we noticed that he was handicapped. He had lost one eye, perhaps during a fight, but it had healed and he was in good condition otherwise. He was about 3 years old. We affixed a radio collar and removed him into the rice field and released him there, hoping that he will not return to steal anymore chickens and get shot from doing so. The Kui Buri District Chief named him “Khao Daeng” as in "red cliff" as he was caught in Khao Daeng Village.

So, there is what had happened in the past few weeks. Now we have two males after losing all the ones that we captured before. We are working hard to make sure that they and our remaining females last. Hopefully now with full support from the Governor we can protect these fishing cats.