Dijo
Thomas Sighted a Rare Species in Auroville – Named it Thirukuralan!
In the middle of June 2019, I Sighted a Rare Species in Auroville.
It was about 1.30 pm. I saw an animal running ahead of me,
abot 3 times the size of a grey mongoose. This animal I have
never sighted in the wild, nor seen any pictures or description.
It was running in the land.
Description:
It was as big or slightly bigger than Malabar Giant Squirrel.
It was Drak Brownish Black in color. It would look almost
black, but the brownish shade is clear to see.
It had a thick black line through its back.
The fur was somewhat like the Mongoose, but a little longer.
The first thought that came to my mind was Red Mongoose. But
it was bigger & color very different.
I rule out the following: Mongoose, Red Mongoose, Malabar
Giant Squirrel, Badger, Honey Badger etc.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora or Rodentia
Order : Order could be either Carnivora or Rodentia .
It could be a new sub-species or even a New Species.
Another Conservationist also said that he had seen it near
the area I saw. A woman said she saw it in a nearby community
area.
It could be have been brought from Europe or Africa and released
here.
[I don’t see much of a problem in that, as long as it does
not a pest in nature. My strong opinion is that a “Forest
with Wild Animals is better than one without, even introduced
ones. “
I also will say that in the era of Man made Disasters like
Ecological Destruction, Climate Change etc, it is always better
to have a backup of a Rare Species in a distant place, than
the possibility of loosing it altogether.
Further investigations are required.
I am naming it Thirukuralan – in Honour of ancient Tamil Philosophical
Text Tirukkural by Valluvar .
I am taking this opportunity to Congratulate the Community
[name will be published after getting permission from them]
where I sighted it.
I also Congratulate the Auroville Forest Group Members, especially
the Pioneers, as this animal’s habitat [where I saw it] is
something they created through their hard toil, over the years.
The particular animal, in a way, is still living, due to their
effort.
I dedicate my Discovery to Members of Auroville Forest Group
.
________________________________________
Dijo Thomas
04 July 2019
Tamil Nadu
Pondicherry
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