Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Rare mongoose rescued

Staff Reporter

There are about 40 species of mongoose in the world There are about 40 species of mongoose in the world

PRIZED CATCH? The mongoose which strayed into human habitations at Rudrampet village near Anantapur on Friday.

ANANTAPUR: A rare species of wild mongoose which strayed into human habitat near here on Friday was rescued and released into the wild by Forest Department officials. Identified as wild mongoose by the forest officials the carnivorous mammal was safely caged, fed and released into the wild again.

Giving the details to The Hindu , Forest Range Officer G. Dharmaraju explained that he had received a phone call in the afternoon from Rudrampet village on the outskirts of Anantapur that a strange animal had strayed into the surroundings and the people were scared of it while it was roaming for shelter.

Along with his staff and armed by a portable cage the FRO reached the locality where the animal was seen and they could safely cage it without hurting the rare animal. Later, the caged animal was brought to the DFO's office here. As the animal was disturbed, they fed it with meat and vegetables to make it normal.

`Viverridae'

A large number of onlookers thronged the DFO office premises to have a glimpse of the rare animal. The animal weighed about 20 kg and its body was about 60 cm long and the tail was about one meter long, Mr. Dharmaraju explained. He further explained that there were about 40 species of mongoose in the world. The animal was long-tailed and short-legged carnivorous mammal of the family `viverridae', which also includes the civets and genets. The FRO stated that the animal would not harm humans. It was released into the wild in the evening safely.

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Rare mongoose rescued

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