FILM
Mach Bagha
In Mach Bagha, the second in our Herding Cats film series, we are introduced to the liminal world of a fishing cat that resides on the banks of India’s largest brackish water lagoon situated in the eastern state of Odisha. Through the eyes of Choti, a wild fishing cat recorded and anthropomorphised by conservationist and expert Tiasa Adhya, we explore the bounties of the lake and the challenges faced by the four-legged and two-legged fisherfolk of the region as they contend with the changes brought to their habitat by burgeoning fish farms.
Herding Cats is part of Cataplisms, a project that seeks to explore the world through a feline lens – via the work of conservationists, anthropologists, artists, writers, researchers, and more. These films are visualised by Faraway Originals and produced by Dark ‘n’ Light.
About the narrator
Tiasa Adhya is an Indian conservationist committed to safeguarding the fishing cat and its wetland habitat in Asia. Tiasa co-founded The Fishing Cat Project in 2010, which is the longest running research and conservation project focused on this fascinating felid. Along with her team, she spearheaded an initiative called ‘Know Thy Neighbours’ in which local residents were trained to monitor fishing cats to collect ecological data. They also named the cats and in the process, created a personal connection with the species. In collaboration with government agencies, Tiasa went on to start a joint patrolling and monitoring programme in Chilika, India, to help mitigate threats to the fishing cat and its wetland habitat. Tiasa’s work not only resulted in the fishing cat being appointed the official ambassador of Chilika, but also brought attention to other animal species in the ecosystem and led to the first ever recording of the Eurasian otter from India’s east coast. She has won innumerable awards, including the Future For Nature Award, for her work on this neglected species.