BASHARAT RASHID
PULWAMA: A ‘Himalayan palm civet’ was caught alive by a team of wildlife officials in Pulwama district of South Kashmir, an official said.
Incharge Control Room Wildlife, Bilal Ahmad Reshi, told INS that, the team laid a trap in Ugergund Newa village of Pulwama after local residents complained that “cat like animal is roaming freely” in the residential areas.
Upon arrival to the spot were trap was set, officials said they were surprised to see the animal.
“We have never observed them in our jurisdictions,” they said.
The caught Himalayan palm civet was subsequently shifted Zoo in Pahalgam.
Reshi said that it is first time in valley that Himalayan Palm Civet has been captured.
Pertinently, Himalayan Palm Civet, belonging to the family Viverridae is a civet species native to the Indian Sub Continent and South East Asia.
The average length of head and body of a Himalayan palm civet is about 60 cm which is almost equal to the size of its tail.
