The Binghamton Zoo is proud to announce the arrival of Hunter and Malikai, two young fishing cats, a species native to Asia.
Hunter and Malikai came to the Binghamton Zoo to fulfill a breeding recommendation coordinated by the Fishing Cat Species Survival Plan. The two were paired to maintain genetic diversity within the captive population.
The male cat, Hunter, was born on April 15, 2014 at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, DC. The female cat, Malikai, was born on Sept. 21, 2014 at the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in Rosamond, California.
Native to southern Asia, fishing cats inhabit wetlands within India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Pakistan. Like the name suggests, fishing cats find food by diving into the water or grabbing them from shallow water. Fishing cats predominantly eat fish, but are also known to eat frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and small mammals.
The fishing cat is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Threats to this species include wetland and habitat destruction as well as poaching and non-sustainable fishing practices.
Hunter and Malikai are on exhibit in the lower zoo. The zoo will be open on weekends only until Grand Opening, April 23. Visit rossparkzoo.com for pricing and hours.
The Binghamton Zoo is located at 60 Morgan Rd. in Binghamton, N.Y. For information, call (607) 724-5461 or visit the zoo website at rossparkzoo.com.
