China's national first-class protected wild animal small Indian civet found in Three Gorges Dam area

Date: 2025-01-09

Wildlife monitoring cameras in the Three Gorges Dam area have captured footage of a small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), a species under first-class national protection in China. This marks the first-ever sighting of this species in the dam area.

Small Indian civets, a rare terrestrial carnivore wildlife species known for their high requirements for living environment, serve as a key indicator of a healthy ecosystem. Their presence underscores the sound ecological environment in the Three Gorges Dam area and is conducive to maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.

The civet was spotted in the Xiyuan Park of the Three Gorges Dam area, which is home to 85 tree species, approximately 950,000 trees, and over 200,000 square meters of flowering ground cover. The rich vegetation attracts many rare animals, providing vital habitats for them.

In 2024, researchers recorded a total of 67 wildlife species across 31 families and 11 orders in the Three Gorges Dam area, including small Indian civets, as well as four wild animal species under second-class national protection in China, such as black kites, Asian barred owlets, Chinese hwameis, and red-billed leiothrixes.

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By China Three Gorges Corporation

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