Team HEAL conducts awareness campaign in Murshidabad after false panic over fishing cat sighting

29 January 2026

Could wild animal sightings also tell us how aware the general public is about our ecological heritage?

In Barkhori village, Murshidabad, an animal seen moving through a field recently triggered panic, with many assuming it to be a leopard cub. The Forest Department later rescued the animal and confirmed it to be a Fishing Cat, which was safely released near the Babla River.

The fishing cat safely rescued and released near the Babla river by Forest Department in Murshidabad

Targeted surveys on the Fishing Cat are lacking outside protected areas because of which their presence in human dominated landscapes remains poorly documented. We do know that much of Murshidabad sustains considerable stretches of its natural habitat.

Locally known as baghrol, these cats are shy, wetland-dependent carnivores that live and nest in marshes and swamps lining the fringes of shallow waterbodies, lakes and rivers. They are rarely seen, but encounters may increase as wetlands shrink and human activities expand.

Awareness About Fishing Cat in Murshidabad

To prevent misinformation and possible retaliation, HEAL conducted an on-ground awareness programme in the area on 15 January, led by our Zonal Coordinator, Soumyadip Mondal

Zonal Coordinator Soumyadip Mondal explains to the locals of Murshidabad the importance of Fishing Cats in the ecosystem

Through flex banners, posters and handbills, residents were informed that:

• The Fishing Cat is West Bengal’s state animal

• It is a globally endangered species protected under Indian wildlife laws

• It plays a role in controlling rodent populations that are known to be pests for crops.

As our landscapes change, understanding the wildlife that shares them — including our own state animal — is essential for reducing fear and enabling peaceful coexistence.

A local from Barkhori village, Murshidabad, explains the dos and don’ts for future sighting