(UTV | COLOMBO) – A rare fishing cat died in Kalutara after being hit by a three-wheeler this morning (23).
The remains of the precious animal was later taken to Hikkaduwa by the Officers attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The latest victim was the 2nd fishing cat to be killed in the area over the past few months.
Another fishing cat was killed in December in the same area after being run over by a vehicle.
Environmentalists accused Wildlife Officers of failing to take steps to protect animals in the forest area in Kalutara.
According to environmentalists, a large population of fishing cats are living in the forest area in Kalutara.
The fishing cat which is listed as endangered and vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species, is found widespread across Sri Lanka. It lives around lakes, rivers, and wetlands.