Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070453400300.htm

Other States - Puducherry

Three toddy cats, new attractions at Forest Department office

Serena Josephine. M

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

New arrivals: Three young Palm Civets, also known as Toddy Cats, are the new arrivals at the Forest Department

PUDUCHERRY: Three palm civets, or “toddy cats,” are the latest attraction at the Forest Department office premises here.

Locally called “Maranai,” they mostly live on palm and coconut trees. The three specimens were handed over to the Department by a person from Kannikoil. They were just 15 days old, Conservator of Forest P. Devaraj said.

Palm civets are nocturnal. They live on palm trees and eat the fruits. In areas such as Nettapakkam, people put up boards with pictures of snakes on coconut trees: they assume that the civets would keep off the trees on seeing the picture. In some cases, people kept thorn bushes to prevent them from climbing the trees.

The premises of the department, which houses a number of animals, birds and reptiles in an environment akin to a mini-zoo, has had a palm civet for the last two years. The new arrivals are being fed with milk, banana and carrots, the official said.

“Mostly palm civets feed on vegetables. Seldom do they eat small birds and rodents. They have scent glands in the perineal area. The animals also have stink glands from which they eject a fluid to escape enemies. The fluid is acidic and could cause temporary blindness,” Mr. Devaraj said.In captivity, the animals would live for 12 to 15 years, he said, adding that the palm civets would be reared at the department.