Duisburg Zoo Modernizes Fishing Cat Facility to Save Species!

Duisburg Zoo Modernizes Fishing Cat Facility to Save Species!

A lot is happening at Duisburg Zoo right now - the Friends of the Duisburg Zoo e.V. has given the green light for the comprehensive modernization of the fishing cat facility. Not only the outdoor area is affected, but also the indoor area. A new home is being created here for the endangered fishing cat population, which will benefit both the animals and visitors. How Radio Duisburg reported, the support association is responsible for the entire financing of the renovation work amounting to 200,000 euros.

Zoo director Astrid Stewin is aware of the scope of the measures and emphasizes that this renovation is an essential part of the master plan for the Duisburg Zoo. The fishing cats are to be housed in a modern habitat enriched by caves, tree roots, climbing trunks and new pond landscapes. Additionally, there will be no restrictions on viewer viewing, which should significantly improve the experience for visitors.

From grief to new beginnings

The decision to modernize is no coincidence. Last year, the well-known female fishing cat Kumi left Duisburg Zoo to find a new home in Nuremberg Zoo and father offspring there. This happened after the death of her partner, who died of bladder cancer in spring 2023. Curator Taissa Faust emphasizes how important each individual young animal is for the preservation of the species, of which only around 80 animals remain in breeding programs today. Kumi, who has lived at the Duisburg Zoo since 2012, makes a significant contribution to attracting offspring in the breeding program, which illustrates the need for such measures.

The move out of Kumi is now being used as an opportunity to bring the existing facility up to the most modern standards. However, the exact date remains unclear until the renovation work is completed and new fishing cats can move in TheWest reported.

The protection of fishing cats

The problems that fishing cats face in the wild are diverse. The IUCN classifies this species as endangered because its habitat is significantly threatened by waste disposal, road construction, settlement expansion and deforestation. Fishing cats' range in Asian rainforests is continually shrinking, resulting in isolated populations that have difficulty finding mates and new habitats. Against this background, the role of zoos in species and nature conservation is of enormous importance, as is also shown on the website Zoo Berlin can be read.

The modernization of the fishing cat facility at Duisburg Zoo is therefore not just a local project, but part of the global effort to protect endangered species and preserve their habitats. We can only hope that the renovation work progresses quickly so that visitors can soon experience the fascinating fishing cats again in a new, species-appropriate environment.