An elusive fishing cat signals progress in Cambodia

June 8, 2026

One of Asia’s most elusive small wild cats, a fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) has been spotted for the first time in the restored flooded forest of Pursat, Cambodia.

These charismatic aquatic cats are solitary, nocturnal hunters, about twice the size of a house cat, with partially webbed front paws and semi-retractable claws, making them expert swimmers that dive and scoop fish, though they also eat rodents, birds, and reptiles.

The fishing cat is native to South and Southeast Asia and is considered “vulnerable,” just one step above “endangered,” with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals estimated globally. In Cambodia, the species is so rare that it borders on myth.

Yet, to the surprise and delight of local conservationists, this single adult fishing cat has been photographed dozens of times. Its sighting in Pursat marks a turning point in the restoration story of Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest lake.

Provided by Conservation International. Captured from a camera trap.

A recovering great lake

“It’s a thrilling discovery. But its sighting indicates so much more than just the return of the fishing cat – it’s a testament to the hard work of the community to restore their wetlands,” commented Sony Oum, Country Director of Conservation International Cambodia.

For 15 years, Conservation International, the Royal Government of Cambodia, and 16 local fishing communities have worked together to restore the Tonle Sap by preventing pollution, overfishing, and removing harmful invasive species.

The Tonle Sap is a critical ecosystem and resource, providing half of Cambodia’s animal protein. More than 1.5 million people call the lake home, and many live in floating villages on the water. The main source of income for these floating households on Tonle Sap Lake is the sale of fish and processed fish, which is often smoked or converted into a paste.

Provided by Conservation International. © Sophearoth Ravy.

Conservation International Cambodia uses a strategy called the Families and Fisheries Resilience Building Model, which takes a comprehensive approach to working with communities to support their leadership and management of local fisheries and the flooded forest surrounding the lake. This approach includes community enforcement, wildfire management, and sustainable finance.

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies has supported Conservation International’s work on the Tonle Sap through its freshwater ecosystem program since 2019.

The return of a predator

The fishing cat’s presence is the clearest sign yet that the Tonle Sap and its wetlands are recovering. Across Cambodia, many of the country’s largest predators have vanished. In a landscape reshaped by decades of habitat loss and hunting, the quiet return of a mid-sized carnivore carries outsized meaning.

“The cat’s return suggests that fish are abundant enough to sustain a hunter. It suggests that the flooded forests have regained some of the underbrush that predators need to hide from prey. It suggests that, at least here, the wetlands are recovering.”

— Sony Oum, Country Director of Conservation International Cambodia

A restored Tonle Sap is about more than a single species. Not long ago, the flooded forests were facing destruction. But today, native wildlife like otters, birds, and the fishing cat are returning.

A guide trains local committee members on how to set up camera traps, like the one that has photographed the fishing cat. Provided by Conservation International.

Meaningful change takes time

Sokrith Heng has led the Tonle Sap program for more than 15 years. During his tenure he has helped champion inclusive, community-based approaches that have strengthened local livelihoods, supported the restoration of flooded forests, and encouraged the gradual recovery of once-degraded habitats.

During his 15 years of leadership, the most inspiring moments have come from witnessing wildlife return to areas where it had long disappeared—a powerful reminder that nature can recover when given the chance.

Sony Oum and Sokrith Heng plant a tree, part of efforts to restore the flooded forests surrounding Tonle Sap. Provided by Conservation International.

For Sokrith, the recent return of the elusive fishing cat represents far more than the return of a rare species. It is living proof that years of patience, partnership, and sustained commitment are helping restore one of Southeast Asia’s most important wetland ecosystems.