Alfie, a fishing cat rescued with a severe jaw injury, is back in the wild in Bangladesh with a satellite collar
A male fishing cat rescued in northern Bangladesh with a jaw injury that stopped him eating has been released after rehabilitation, wearing a satellite collar. He went from 5 kg to more than 12 kg in care.
A fishing cat rescued in Bangladesh with a jaw injury so severe he could not feed properly has been released back into the wild wearing a satellite collar, The Business Standard reported on 25 October. The male cat, named Alfie, was rescued by the Bangladesh Forest Department in northern Bangladesh in February 2026.
From 5 kilograms to more than 12
Alfie was taken to the Jankichara Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, where the Creative Conservation Alliance (CCA) team handled his veterinary care and rehabilitation. When he was rescued he weighed 5 kilograms; by the time of his release he weighed more than 12.
Before release he spent eight weeks in a soft-release enclosure, where animals can adjust to outdoor conditions while still being monitored. He was then released within the Ootterbhag and Indanugger Tea Estate, where the surrounding wetlands offer suitable habitat for fishing cats.
A collar to follow him
Alfie wears a 200-gram satellite collar, less than 2% of his body weight, so researchers can follow his movements. The report says the work is at an early stage, and more information is needed before conclusions can be drawn about rehabilitating and releasing fishing cats this way.
Rescue centers across Asia are returning animals to the wild; in Vietnam, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park released 17 rescued animals, bringing its 2026 total to 220. More stories are collected under wildlife rescue.
Sources
- The Business Standard (Bangladesh) · tbsnews.net
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