Research overview: the fishing cat as a flagship for urban wetland conservation

Charismatic and wetland-dependent, the fishing cat has become a flagship species mobilising protection for the marshes and waterways of cities such as Colombo. This overview synthesises conservation-strategy work on how flagship framing, public engagement and citizen science around fishing cats advance broader wetland protection that also delivers flood mitigation and biodiversity benefits. It examines partnerships among researchers, government and communities, and the challenge of sustaining habitat amid development pressure. The synthesis frames the fishing cat as a case study in leveraging a single appealing felid to defend an ecosystem critical to both wildlife and people in a growing urban landscape.