Donald James Mackay

President of BNHS 1886–1890 

Donald James Mackay, 1st Baron Reay and 11th Lord Reay (December 22, 1839 – August 01, 1921) was the first President of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) from 1886 to 1890, while in office as the Governor of Bombay. As many of you know, BNHS was founded in 1883 by a group of eight individuals with the objective of disseminating biological knowledge.

 Born as Donald Jacob, Baron Mackay in The Hague, he uniquely held the Dutch titles of Lord of Ophemert and Zennewijnen due to his birthplace and inheritance. His father, Aeneas Mackay, the 10th Lord Reay, was also a Dutch Member of Parliament.

 Lord Reay succeeded his father in 1876 and was naturalized as a British subject in 1877. Prime Minister William Gladstone appointed him Governor of Bombay in 1885, a position he held until 1890. As Governor, he personally oversaw the political, military, ecclesiastical, and public works departments, and in his final year at office, took charge of public instruction, encouraging the development of teaching across various disciplines. He also paid much attention to the development of the railway system.

 In recognition of his service, he was appointed a Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1887 and a Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (GCSI) in 1890. Upon returning to Britain, he served as Under-Secretary of State for India from 1894 to 1895.

 Abridged from various public sources

 

– Dr Bharat Bhushan

Honorary Secretary, BNHS

 

Builders and Guardians of Modern India:
A Tribute to the Former Presidents of BNHS

 

We are keen to introduce a new series of articles exploring the lives and achievements of our former presidents. These individuals, who served as the guardians of our society, were not only passionate about nature and conservation but also played a significant role in shaping modern India.

Over the coming months, we will feature articles on some of the most remarkable individuals who have led our society, beginning with Donald James Mackay, the Honourable Governor of Bombay, who served as the Society’s first President from 1886 to 1890. Many Mumbaikars may be familiar with the Reay Road suburban railway station, but few know that it was named after Donald James Mackay, who was also the 11th Lord Reay and the first Baron Reay.

Through this series, we aim to highlight the contributions of our former presidents, who, beyond their official roles, were instrumental in shaping modern India. Their profiles will not only offer a glimpse into the nation’s past but also inspire us to carry forward their legacy of conservation, sustainability, and nation-building.

We invite you to join us on this journey through history of the BNHS in its formative years.

 

Fishing Cat – Endangered Shadows of Vanishing Wetlands in India

By P. Sathiyaselvam

The elusive fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus, a species intrinsically linked to Asia’s wetlands, faces an increasingly precarious future. Once distributed across a patchwork of territories from Pakistan to Java, its range is now fragmented and shrinking. In India, this endangered feline persists primarily in the eastern regions, including West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, as well as along the Himalayan foothills in the Terai. While occasional sightings occur in protected areas such as Keoladeo National Park and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, these have become increasingly rare, underscoring the species’ decline in the western regions.

A combination of human activities has driven this alarming trend. The relentless destruction of wetland and floodplain habitats – fuelled by unchecked development, unsustainable aquaculture, and encroaching agriculture – continues to erode the fishing cat’s natural domain. Illegal hunting, compounded by rural and urban land policies that prioritize human expansion, further exacerbates the situation. Additionally, the proliferation of brick industries near these delicate ecosystems contributes to environmental degradation. If immediate and intensive habitat protection measures are not implemented, a further decline in fishing cat populations is anticipated in the near future.

In this context, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, located along the eastern coastline of India in Andhra Pradesh, plays a critical role in conservation efforts. With its unique mangrove ecosystem and intricate network of waterways, the sanctuary offers a potential stronghold for the fishing cat. However, like other habitats, it remains vulnerable to the same threats that imperil the species elsewhere. A deeper understanding of the fishing cat’s ecology – both within Coringa and across its range – is urgently needed. Despite its endangered status, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding its foraging and breeding biology, social behaviour, and current distribution, all of which hinder effective conservation strategies. Addressing these gaps is essential for securing the species’ future, and with dedicated research and protection efforts, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary could emerge as a key refuge for the fishing cat in India.

 

Spanning 235.7 square kilometres at the confluence of the Godavari River and the Bay of Bengal in the East Godavari District, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Godavari Estuary and features extensive mangrove cover. The region experiences temperatures ranging from 17°C to 40°C and receives over 1,000 millimetres of annual rainfall. The sanctuary’s northern portion includes approximately 100 square kilometres of Kakinada Bay backwaters.

Initial studies on the fishing cat population within the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary involved a comprehensive survey encompassing 134 grids across the sanctuary’s mangrove expanse. This survey utilized pugmark and scat analysis, direct sightings with GPS coordinates, and behavioural observations to map the fishing cat’s distribution and movements. Additionally, between June 2014 and July 2015, 60 camera traps, deployed in pairs for 15-day periods synchronized with spring and neap tides, were used to capture photographic evidence. Individual fishing cats were identified based on their unique pelage patterns, and the initial study estimated a population of 95 to 100 individuals within the sanctuary.

Recognizing the importance of understanding the broader population dynamics, the study recommended extending surveys to adjacent mangrove areas within the Godavari delta. Activity patterns were correlated with tidal data obtained from online sources to understand the fishing cat’s behaviour to tidal fluctuations. Subsequently, in 2018, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department conducted follow-up surveys, employing similar methodologies, and recorded 115 individual fishing cats within the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjoining mangrove areas.

More recently, in 2023–2024, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducted further investigations, resulting in an estimated population of 85–90 individual fishing cats. These varying estimates highlight the dynamic nature of wildlife populations and underscore the importance of continuous monitoring. The fluctuations observed may be attributed to a variety of factors, including habitat changes, prey availability, and natural population cycles. Further research is necessary to fully understand the factors influencing fishing cat population dynamics within the Godavari mangroves, and continuous monitoring is crucial for effective conservation strategies.

Interviews with residents from the villages surrounding Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary highlighted several human-fishing cat conflicts. Fishermen reported annual losses of 10 to 20 kilograms of fish to fishing cats, resulting in monetary losses for the fishermen. Fear-driven attacks on fishing cats by crab collectors were also reported, stemming from a belief that the animals target human eyes. Aqua farmers suffered losses from fishing cats preying on farmed fish and prawns, with annual financial losses. Fishing cats explored gaps in aquaculture pump houses and were sometimes killed by electric fences or direct attacks. Villagers reported fishing cats entering their communities, particularly during summer, to prey on poultry and lambs, leading to retaliatory killings through snares or beatings. Expanding industrial development and aquaculture outside the sanctuary has further reduced fishing cat habitat, forcing them into human-dominated areas where they face heightened risks.

Raising awareness is crucial to the effective protection of fishing cats in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary. Surveys revealed significant knowledge gaps among local communities, with most residents unaware of the species’ protected status. They expressed a willingness to support conservation efforts. Awareness campaigns and constructive dialogues between wildlife managers and local stakeholders are essential to building trust and facilitating information exchange. Additionally, radio telemetry is recommended to enhance understanding of the fishing cat’s behaviour and ecology. Given their nocturnal and elusive nature, radio-collaring at least five individuals (two males and three females) would provide valuable insights into habitat use, home range, and seasonal movements, ultimately aiding conservation planning within the sanctuary and surrounding mangrove areas.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary harbours a significant fishing cat population along India’s east coast, warranting its designation as a dedicated Coringa Fishing Cat Sanctuary under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change’s species recovery programme. Subsequently, it was discussed in the high-level forum. Experts suggested that declaring it as a fishing cat sanctuary may lead to a life threat to the animal as it is hunted elsewhere by the people for table purpose. A protected area and conservation activities are proposed to safeguard the mangroves in the region. It is worth prioritizing the area as a specialized fishing cat conservation reserve to give pride to the secretive species. Areas dominated by Suaeda maritima, crucial for kitten rearing, must be preserved and excluded from mangrove expansion initiatives. Furthermore, restoration efforts should focus on clearing invasive Eichhornia species from creeks and canals to mitigate siltation and maintain a healthy habitat for the fishing cat. 

■ P. Sathiyaselvam, Deputy Director of the BNHS, is trained in satellite tracking, and has been involved in Bird Migration studies since 2002.