Local authorities, youth volunteers, teachers and students joined awareness activities, discussions and a human chain in Jhenaidah to promote fishing cat conservation and highlight the species’ ecological value.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) organized a Fishing Cat Conservation Campaign in Jhenaidah on Wednesday to raise public awareness about the ecological importance of the fishing cat and the need to protect the species.
The campaign began in the morning with a decorated caravan van displaying fishing cat stickers, photographs, banners, festoons and placards carrying awareness messages about the species and its role in maintaining ecological balance.
A BELA team started the caravan journey and arrived at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Jhenaidah district, where, together with the local youth organization Jubo Forum, they submitted a memorandum highlighting the importance of conserving fishing cats and their environmental benefits.
After the memorandum was submitted, the Additional Deputy Commissioner officially inaugurated the awareness caravan, which then traveled through different parts of Jhenaidah town to spread conservation messages among the public.
Later, a discussion on environmental conservation and the significance of the fishing cat was held at Uzir Ali Secondary School. The session was attended by 75 students and teachers, who actively participated in discussions on biodiversity conservation and the ecological role of fishing cats.
At the end of the program, BELA representatives, members of Jubo Forum and students formed a human chain to express their commitment to protecting the fishing cat.
During the event, participants emphasized that the fishing cat is often mistakenly identified as a tiger, although it is a distinct wild cat species that provides important ecosystem services. One of the campaign’s key messages stated: “It’s not a tiger, it’s a cat,” and that a single fishing cat can help protect crops worth approximately BDT 5 million (50 lakh) during its lifetime by controlling rat populations.
The campaign brought together local authorities, youth, students and members of the wider community to promote awareness of fishing cat conservation and encourage collective action to protect the species and Bangladesh’s biodiversity.
