Rare fishing cat rescued, set free in Madhabakunda Eco Park

The forest department has recovered an 'endangered species' fishing cat from Baralekha in Moulvibazar. It was recovered from Samchuzzaman's house in Chandinagar village of South Shahbazpur UP of Upazila around 2 o'clock on Saturday (June 03). That day around 3.30 pm the mecho cat was released in the Madhabakunda Ecopark area.

According to relevant sources, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has listed the fishing cat as an endangered species in 2008.

According to environmentalists, cats mainly live in canals, banks and bushes. They mainly survive by eating a variety of small animals including fish. Sometimes, if given a chance, domesticated ducks and roosters are also taken.

According to local and forest department sources, the mechho cat was attacking Samchuzzaman's house in Chandinagar village of South Shahbazpur UP in the upazila for a few days. The cat also ate some of their ducks and roosters. On Friday night, the people of Samchuzzaman's house set a trap to catch the mechho cat. It was caught in the trap early Saturday morning. In the morning, they told the matter to the forest department over the phone. After receiving the information, the forest department personnel went there at around two o'clock on Saturday and rescued the cat. That afternoon, around 3:30, the mechho cat was released in Madhabakunda.

Khandkar Reza, a local resident, said, a mechho cat was caught in Samchuzzaman's house in Chandirnagar village, our neighboring area. It looks like a tiger. The people of the house said that the Mecho cat was attacking their house for a few days. Their pet chickens have been eaten by the cat. Later they captured it to get a trap and informed the forest department. The forest department people came and took it away.

Baralekha Range Officer Shekhar Ranjan Das said on Saturday afternoon that a mechho cat was caught in Samchuzzaman's house in Chandinagar village. It was quickly recovered after receiving the news. The cat was released at Madhabakunda Ecopark in the afternoon.

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