Civet cat enters Noorani masjid in Golconda, rescued

Hyderabad: An Asian Civet cat that entered the Masjid E Noorani mosque, on May 14th, has been rescued, said an official of Nehru Zoo park. Panic gripped in and around Fathe Darwaza of Hyderabad, on Thursday as the news of the big cat in the town spread. The Anti-poaching teams from the Nehru zoological park deployed at the mosque, identified it to be a Asian Palm Civet.

On May 14th,the locals at Golconda identified a big cat entering the mosque between 2 AM and 3 AM.

When contacted the Zoo officials, an officer said, "It was spotted entering through the minars of the masjid'. On rumors of it being a black panther, the officer explained. "A panther cannot enter into an 8 inch gap, we have seen the dropping, it is not of a panther. It is a nocturnal animal, it will withdraw to a dark place at the sun rise, The team have located and rescued the animal'.

The rescue operation was on since 4.30 AM Thursday, while it ended at around 9. 30 AM . " The Civet cat was isolated inside the mosque. The entry and exit doors have been closed' the officer added

Authorities said Civets are common especially in and around Chilkur and Golconda area, it was once their habitat.

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Meanwhile Golconda Police Inspector K ChandraShekar Reddy added, "The area has been cordoned off and instructions were given to the residents to not step out. Some photos of Civet morphed as a black panther are also being circulated by the locals. There is no black panther in Telangana'.