Endemic Marsh Mongoose Herpestes palustris (Carnivora: Herpestidae) of East Kolkata Wetlands, India: a status report

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J.K. Mallick

Abstract

Marsh Mongoose Herpestes palustris is the only extant endemic mammal of the East Kolkata wetlands, which has been declared a RAMSAR site in 2002. Since its first description by the scientists of the Zoological Survey of India, the population of this species has dwindled to an alarming state due to reclamation of the Salt Lake City and Rajarhat expansion, as well as from other anthropogenic causes. Recently, during a field survey only a small population of this endangered mongoose was found in a single location. Immediate conservation measures are required to be taken by the concerned authorities to stop its probable extinction in the near future.

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Section
Communications
Author Biography

J.K. Mallick

Jayanta Kumar Mallick Postgraduated in 1974, joined the Wildlife Wing (Headquarters) in 1976 and has been working as PA to PCCF, Wildlife, West Bengal, for the last 33 years. He has been involved in all departmental publications, has participated in departmental workshops, undertaken a number of studies, is looking after departmental data bank and has about fifty published articles and study reports on wildlife conservation.