One House, One Kitchen Garden initiative promotes rusty-spotted cat conservation in Bardia

BARDIA: A community-based conservation programme promoting household kitchen gardens as a means of protecting the endangered rusty-spotted cat has been launched in Thakurbaba Municipality-9, Khusalpur, Bardia.

The “One House, One Kitchen Garden” training brought together 14 local residents for a one-day programme on organic vegetable farming and wildlife conservation. The initiative was coordinated by conservationist Ramjan Chaudhary (“Rajan”) and facilitated by veterinarian Ashish Chaudhary with support from the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation (SWCCF), the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZSCF), and the Rusty-Spotted Cat Working Group (RSCWG-Bardia).

The programme aims to reduce local communities’ dependence on forest resources by encouraging households to establish kitchen gardens while raising awareness about the conservation of the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), the world’s smallest wild cat.

Participants received practical training on organic farming techniques, including compost preparation, soil management, and environmentally friendly vegetable cultivation. They were also provided with agricultural hand tools and seasonal vegetable seeds to help them establish kitchen gardens at home.

Conservationists say the approach not only strengthens household food security but also reduces pressure on nearby forests by lowering the need to collect forest resources. Fewer human disturbances in forests can help protect wildlife habitats, conserve prey species, reduce illegal hunting, minimise the risk of forest fires, and improve overall ecosystem health.

The rusty-spotted cat is found only in Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. Measuring just 35 to 48 centimetres in length and weighing between 0.9 and 1.6 kilograms, the elusive feline is recognised by its greyish to reddish-brown coat marked with rusty-coloured spots. It is primarily nocturnal, solitary, and feeds on rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, making it an important natural controller of rodent populations.

According to programme coordinator Ramjan Chaudhary, the species was first photographed and documented in Bardia National Park in 2012 (2069 BS) during his tenure as a senior naturalist. As Khusalpur lies close to the area where the cat was first recorded, he said local communities have a crucial role in protecting its habitat and ensuring its long-term survival.

During the training, participants were encouraged to act as conservation ambassadors by reporting forest fires, discouraging illegal hunting, helping reduce wildlife road fatalities, protecting natural habitats, and promoting conservation awareness within their communities.

The organisers said the programme forms part of broader conservation efforts being implemented in Bardia by SWCCF, MBZSCF, and the Rusty-Spotted Cat Working Group. These include school-based conservation education, habitat restoration through tree planting, community tree-house construction, homestay improvement, sustainable agriculture training, income-generation activities, and forest fire prevention campaigns.

The supporting organisations reaffirmed their commitment to conserving lesser-known and threatened wildlife while promoting sustainable livelihoods for communities living alongside important wildlife habitats. They noted that the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund supports species conservation initiatives in 174 countries, with particular emphasis on endangered and understudied species such as the rusty-spotted cat.