Kerala

Zoo may soon have jungle cat

NOT SO WILD: The jungle cat in the custody of the Animal Husbandry Department in Kollam.

The zoo in Thiruvananthapuram will soon have a jungle cat (felis chaus) as an attraction. The cat for the purpose is in the custody of the Kottiyam Veterinary Centre of the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD).

Efforts are on to seek permission of the Forest Department to transfer the cat to the zoo. Veterinary surgeon B. Aravind said he spoke to veterinarian of the zoo P.S. Jayakumar about the cat and he expressed willingness to take the cat as the zoo did not have such an animal.

“If things work out as expected, the zoo will become the new home for the cat in a day or two,” Dr. Aravind said.

The jungle cat came into the custody of the AHD after getting entangled in a net spread in a lake at Kanannallur Kallikad on the outskirts of the city on Monday morning.

The net was spread to trap fish. The cat came swimming to catch fish and in the process got entangled in the net. The jungle cat is an excellent swimmer and diver. Freshwater fish is one of its delicacies.

On seeing the cat, the owner of the net informed the police who in turn informed the AHD. Dr.Aravind said that the cat, a male, appeared tired due to stress. An injection and medication were administered to overcome the stress. Being in a strange environment, the cat is ignoring food.

It will hopefully recover and adjust in the zoo environment, Dr, Aravind said.

Ignatius Pereira

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