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Civet rescued from AC duct in Delhi

A civet was rescued running amok from the Parliament complex in July 2014 and another from Khan Market in September, having sent shopkeepers and customers in a tizzy for a few hours. Last year a baby civet was rescued again from AC ducts in a house in Vasant Kunj area.

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A family in the capital’s East Patel Nagar was in for a surprise when they ran into a long cat while cleaning their AC ducts on Tuesday. A Common Palm Civet, had taken shelter in the duct. Wildlife officials had to be called in to rescue the wild cat. It was later released in the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary.

However, this is not an isolated occurrence. Neelgais, leopards and more civets have been spotted on different occasions straying in urban areas. According to wildlife experts, while spotting a Common Palm Civet is not rare since it lives close to human habitation, the repeated occurrences of wild animals straying into urban areas is largely because of loss of natural habitat.

A civet was rescued running amok from the Parliament complex in July 2014 and another from Khan Market in September, having sent shopkeepers and customers in a tizzy for a few hours. Last year a baby civet was rescued again from AC ducts in a house in Vasant Kunj area.

A leopard was spotted in Faridabad last month reaching up the roofs of one-storeyed houses. Locals ended up killing him. 

In October this year, a Neelgai was found loitering in a park in Alaknanda in south Delhi.

Professor Surya Prakash, School of Life Sciences, JNU, said, “It is not unusual to spot a civet in urban areas, as they live close to human habitation. They breed during the winters and was probably seeking shelter in the duct.”
He added, while there are two types of civets — Common Palm Civet and Small Indian Civet — the later is an endangered species.

Increased population of stray dogs is another reason for the decline in the numbers of Small Indian Civets, as these are preyed upon by the dogs.

Geeta Seshamani, co-founder, Wildlife SOS, a rescue and conservation organisation said, “This is the second civet rescue in the last 10 days. Habitat encroachment and deforestation is redefining boundaries between forest and urban areas. Consequently, the incidents of wild animals straying into urban area are increasing. People need to be made aware of and sensitized towards the common wild animals straying into urban areas.”

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