India, Feb. 24 -- Assam's iconic Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has emerged as a bastion of the endangered fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), with a first-of-its-kind scientific assessment finding a thriving population of the wild feline across the wetlands of the protected area, according to a statement.

The Tiger Cell of Kaziranga, in collaboration with Tiasa Adhya, Scientist-Fishing Cat Project, assessed the camera-trap images available from past All India Tiger Estimation data. They wanted to determine if fishing cats are rare or common in the park, and to estimate minimum individuals present.

The scientists identified a total of 57 unique individuals across 450+ sq km, indicating a healthy, reproducing population wid...