Bhitarkanika, Orissa
<p><strong>Fishing Cats:</strong> <em>“Nocturnal species, fishing cats are far from easy to spot. Found near wetlands and mangrove forests, Bhitarkanika, in Orissa is one place where these elusive cats could be spotted from a boat when the tide is low. With luck and patience you might even spot one catching a meal when it comes ashore to hunt! On a chilly February night in 2021, I scoured Bhitarkanika’s waterways by boat for hours over two days before I finally managed to obtain this image of a rare and vulnerable species. Sadly, fishing cat populations are threatened by the destruction of wetlands and their populations have been in decline over the last decade.”</em></p>
<p><strong>Smita Behera</strong> is an amateur wildlife photographer who has won many laurels for her photographs. She has been published in both national and international journals.</p>
