Spatio-Temporal Association of Fishing Cats with the Mammalian Assemblages in the East Godavari Mangrove Delta, India

Abstract

Extrapolation of spatio-temporal association in the guild of vulnerable wetland species like the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus Bennet, 1833) can inform strategies for conservation action. Camera trap study was conducted at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) and the adjoined mangroves located in the East Godavari River Estuarine system (EGREE) which harbours the second largest population of fishing cats in India. The study recorded fishing cats (n = 495), jackals (n = 472), rhesus macaques (n = 186), smooth-coated otters (n = 24), jungle cats (n = 13), mongooses (n = 3), rodents (n = 49), birds (n = 62), and humans (n = 793). A predominant nocturnal activity was observed for the fishing cat and jungle cat, while the jackal showed bimodal activity. The fishing cat showed a high temporal overlap with rodents and considerable spatio-temporal segregation towards human disturbances. The overall structure of spatio-temporal relations indicates segregation in the guild and maybe an effective strategy to avoid competition. The anthropogenic stress and the negative interactions lead to conflicts which are detrimental in sustaining a viable fishing cat population in EGREE. Our study accentuates this fact and substantiates that EGREE delta region is a benign fishing cat habitat if human disturbances are abridged.