The political nerve center of the country had a unique visitor on Saturday – a wild animal “palm civet”, a small mammal that looks like a cross between a mongoose and a wild cat. This endangered arboreal mammal strayed into the parliament house looking for shelter from the rains.
The palm civet is locally referred to as “kabr bicchu” or grave digger which has mythical aspects. The animal is itself completely harmless and is largely nocturnal with an omnivorous diet, feeding on fruits and sometimes scavenging.
Wildlife SOS received a call on the Delhi helpline from the Parliament House about a strange looking animal that was inside the premises. The panic-stricken staff from the parliament house contacted Wildlife SOS on their helpline (#9871963535).
Our rescue team rushed to the spot and confirmed that the animal was a Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus Hermaphrodites), which was hiding behind a television set. The Wildlife SOS team rescued the animal which was found to be severely dehydrated.
The civet is currently under medical rehabilitation and will be released back into its natural habitat after necessary observation procedures.
Civets belong to the Viverridae family and are arboreal (tree climbers) often finding shelter in air conditioner ducts, attics, false ceilings etc.
“Delhi is very fortunate to be home to such unique and endangered wildlife and we should all be working harder to ensure that green areas remain to provide these animals cover and food, “says Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder – Wildlife SOS.
Kartick Satyanarayan, also Co-founder of Wildlife SOS said, “It is the need of the hour to educate people more about wildlife conservation and habitat protection. Wildlife SOS has a dedicated team that works round the clock to protect wildlife in distress.”
