08-04-2025
San Diego Zoo's new fishing cat now on display in Tiger Trail
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Visitors at the San Diego Zoo have a new animal to find as the zoo welcomed an 8-year-old fishing cat from the Denver Zoo.
Miso-Chi can be seen in his habitat in Tiger Trail hiding in a log or watching from above. The San Diego Zoo wildlife care staff says he quickly acclimated to his new habitat and has been exploring, likes to hide and loves the water.
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Fishing cats live in wetland habitats and are one of the best swimmers. The zoo says they have webbing between their toes to help them swim and walk in muddy wetlands without sinking.
Fishing cats mainly eat fish but are also know to eat other prey found in the water, like crabs, crayfish, and frogs. The zoo says the cats wade in shallow water and use their paws to scoop up fish, or they can be seen diving into deeper waters to catch a meal with their teeth.
The fishing cat came to the San Diego Zoo part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance reports fishing cats are vulnerable. As Southeast Asiawetlands continue to disappear as the human population grows, several factors impact their habitats like chemical fertilizers, over-fishing, pollution and drainage issues.
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The wildlife alliance recommends purchasing products that support the better use of the land to help fishing cats and other wildlife that live in wetland habitats. Reducing pollution and practicing eco-friendly fishing and agriculture can ensure fishing cats always have a home in the wetlands.
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