A hog badger, an endangered species, was found in an under-construction site in Kurigram's Char Rajipur Upazila.
Because of the sharp decline of forest habitats, the animal received the endangered designation in Bangladesh, zoologists have confirmed.
The owner of the property, Gaziur Rahman from Dokkhin Kacharipara village, discovered the animal in his house Friday morning.
Since then, hundreds of people have gathered around the house just to have a peek at the animal.
Local journalist Murad Hasan said: “I went to see the animal myself after hearing the news. I saw the animal repeatedly digging through the floor of the house. The locals said they never saw this animal before.”
Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer of Bangladesh Forest Department Zohra Milla was sent a picture of the animal. She confirmed the animal as a hog badger.
Zohra Mila said, according to the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is an endangered animal. It was first seen in Bangladesh in 2012. So far 6 to 7 hog badgers have been found in the north-western part of the country.
She said that this particular hog badger might have crossed the border and come from India.
“Hog badger builds its own habitat by digging the ground itself. They keep the environment clean by eating animal corpses, she added.
Mohammad Rashid Arif, an assistant forest conservator in Kurigram, said: "It may have crossed the Rajibpur border and came from India. I am sending local officials for organizing its rescue from the house. Further action will be taken by contacting the wildlife department.”
