Because it is very illusive and also as it is quite successful in surviving in the suburbs of Colombo over the years , I was fascinated and very eager to make my acquaintance with the Fishing cat for over 5 years . Another reason was that Anya who had started a urban fishing cat conservation project was putting her full effort to locate and re-locate them in a conducive environment at Diyasaru Park in Jayawardhanapura kotte which was frequented by me for birding..
As its a nocturnal animal by nature , I got the opportunity to visit Diyasaru Park in the night a few times after contacting Anya and getting the approval from Lad Reclamation and Development Authority hoping that I would see the animal and could photograph though the dreaded word DARKNESS for photography was written all over and I was unlucky not to confront though once ,one of the camera traps had captured one of them crossing the path a couple of seconds after I had passed .
However in February this year for 2 days a few had seen 2 cubs with the mum at Thalangama wetland in the morning hours , another place we very much visit for birding and there had been quite a few times some residents confronting a cat crossing etc. in this vicinity that we got to know after making inquiries. This was very encouraging and although I went and waited on the third day, unfortunately it had come out around 10.30 after I had left. This missed chance was haunting me badly ever since.
Finally my opportunity came at a time it was least expected as I was hanging in that location with 2 fellow bird watchers on a Saturday in May at around 8 a.m. We were quite disappointed that there were no photo opportunities on that day and were looking at some Whistling ducks who are very common when from no where a healthy and well built young male came in to the open (could have been one of the cubs ) giving us the minimum amount of time to click some pictures before disappearing and even if it was for a brief movement I was overjoyed and thanked my stars for giving me that rare chance...
This was before it disappeared inside.
.JPG)
