Endangered in Sri Lanka · Vulnerable globally
A wetland wild cat living inside the city
The Urban Fishing Cat Conservation Project studies fishing cats in Colombo's urban wetlands and the risks they face in a rapidly changing city.
Remaining wetlands
15%
of Metropolitan Colombo remains wetland
These wetlands store floodwater, support biodiversity, and provide habitat for fishing cats and other urban wildlife.
Why wetlands matter
Meet the species
1
highly urbanised fishing cat population documented in central Colombo
Fishing cats are strongly associated with wetlands and are mostly active after dark, which is why many residents live near them without ever seeing one.
What wetlands do
Four ways Colombo's wetlands support the city
Flood regulation
Urban wetlands temporarily store and slowly release stormwater, reducing flood risk in low-lying parts of the city.
Water quality
Wetland soils and vegetation help trap sediment and filter polluted water as it moves through the urban drainage system.
Biodiversity
Colombo's wetlands support a high diversity of plants and animals, including fishing cats and other wetland-associated species.
Connectivity
Canals, wetland edges, gardens, and road crossings shape how wildlife moves through the city.
At a glance
Sources: 12015 Metro Colombo wetland ecological status report 2Wickramaratne et al. 2026
A Colombo-based research programme
Field research in Colombo's wetland-urban landscape
We use camera traps, GPS collars, field surveys, mortality records, and public reports to study fishing cat movement, habitat use, activity, diet, and risk exposure.
About the projectHow to take part
There are several ways to support the work, from sharing sightings to reading updates, exploring the research, helping fund monitoring, or working with the project.
Report a sighting
Share sightings, roadkill records, or local observations to help identify where fishing cats occur and where attention is needed.
Report a sighting
Explore the research
Read about field studies, camera trap surveys, GPS tracking, diet work, and published research from Colombo's urban wetlands.
Research
Read Field Notes
Follow updates from fieldwork, public reporting, wetland walks, and urban wildlife observations.
Field Notes
Support the work
Help fund camera traps, field surveys, education, public reporting, and long-term monitoring.
Donate
Work with us
Collaborate through research, student involvement, communications, responsible field support, or aligned conservation work.
Work with usFrom the field
Field Notes
Updates from fieldwork, public reporting, wetland walks, and urban wildlife observations.
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Urban Wildlife Series: Ceylon Snakehead (Channa orientalis)
Ever seen those tile-like scales on the top of the head of a snake? Those are called cephalic…
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Urban Wildlife Series: Black-naped Hare (Lepus nigricollis singhala)
There is a need to split hairs when it comes to identifying rabbits from hares (pun intended, by…
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Some roar, some purr: A purr-suit into the science of feline vocalizations
Cats, in all shapes and sizes, in all degrees of character, and in every perceivable habitat, represent an…
Media coverage
Research on Colombo's fishing cats has reached local and international audiences
- National Geographic
- The Atlantic
- Mongabay
- The Hindu
- UNDP
- Nature Index
Support the work
Help sustain long-term fishing cat research and wetland conservation in Colombo
Support helps fund field equipment, monitoring, public reporting, education work, and the continuity needed for long-term conservation research.
Public reports also help identify where fishing cats occur and where they may be exposed to risk.