Tuesday October 6, 2009
By CHRISTINA CHIN
GEORGE TOWN: Residents of Pulau Tikus are worried over the mysterious death of civet cats in the area.
Since last week, two civet cats have been found dead in the Bangkok Lane housing area, resident Larry Cheah told The Star.
"Another sickly looking civet cat has been spotted loitering in the area and we are worried these animals have been exposed to some kind of disease that's causing them to die.
"I've been staying here for the last nine years and have seen many. They only come out at night.
"Behind the houses here there is a graveyard with overgrown bushes, so perhaps the civet cats come from there.
"We don't bother about the civet cats because they don't cause any problems, but now I'm a bit concerned because if they are carrying diseases, it could be harmful as they do come into our kitchens," he said.
When contacted, Penang National Park and Wildlife Department director Noor Alif Wira Osman said the department would send its officers to check on the complaint.
"Civet cats are a protected species. We will trap and release the animals into the jungle if the complaint is true.
"If the animals are indeed suffering from a disease, we will need to get the state health department to help," he said.
An online news portal (http://www.chinadaily.com) reported recently that a group of Chinese scientists had found a genetic link between the SARS coronavirus (viral intestinal infection) appearing in civet cats and humans.
It was thought that SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, had spread to humans from civet cats that had been slaughtered for their meat.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 6 October 2009
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