The Red List is an organization that has been working for years on the conservation of different types of species. They provide information on the species that have made the list. It was designed to determine the risk of extinction, and to then categorize the species into different levels of risk. These levels include critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable. They also have extinct or extinct in the wild. The fishing cat in part has made the Red List under the category of endangered (14).
Why they are endangered:
In 1994 the population status of the cat was unknown. By 1996 their status was at a lower risk or near threatened. From the years 2002-2005 the cats became vulnerable. Today in the year 2009 the cats are now endangered (2). How did this come about? Fishing cats have become endangered due to habitat loss and over hun
ting. Humans who are constantly looking for more land to build homes and roads on have drained the wetlands to make this room. They have also drained the wetlands for agricultural space and have cut down trees for wood (2). A recent survey showed that more than 50% of Asian wetlands are at high threats and are disappearing (3). Not only this but pollutants from industries have seeped into the water and poisoned the water and the animals in it which the cat depends on (1). As for the animal itself, it has been over hunted for its fur and meat (2).My next blog will be about how we as humans are trying to save this cat.
What is being done to help save the fishing cat from extinction?
ReplyDeleteTo piggy back on Alyssa's comment, are there any organizations that are currently trying to rescue the fishing cat from extinction?
ReplyDeleteThat is what my next blog will be about.
ReplyDeleteHonestly and unfortunately, I am surprised that the Fishing Cat is still alive. Animals like the Fishing Cat would have probably gone extinct a long time ago in a place that is more developed, like the US. Southern Asia is far more rural than anywhere here, and hopefully since we know and care about animals going extinct, we can save the fishing cat before they become extinct.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the pollutants before! Is there a specific reason why humans are hunting the fishing cat?
ReplyDeleteBek its mostly for the meat and fur of the area. The areas where these cats live are not as developed as the US and people still hunt animals to make clothes and things
ReplyDeleteThe leaching of toxins into the wetlands waters where the cats live provokes me to ask how directly are the pollunts are effecting the cats, like cancer and new carcinogenics.
ReplyDelete