Masked palm civet captured at IFC mall

A masked palm civet was spotted perched on the railing of a glass curtain wall near an escalator at the IFC Mall in Central on Monday. 

Police received reports around 7am that a suspected raccoon was discovered at the mall, which was later confirmed to be a masked palm civet. The animal was seen occasionally pacing back and forth along the railing.

Firefighters, officers from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) staff arrived at the scene, and the masked palm civet was safely captured around 9.30am after it jumped to the ground. 

The animal sustained no injury and was transferred to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden for further examination.

According to the AFCD, masked palm civets measure 50 to 76 centimeters in length and are nocturnal animals that actively avoid human contact.

Under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, anyone who hunts, harasses, possesses, sells, or exports the animal could be fined up to HK$100,000 and jailed for one year.

Download The Standard app to stay informed with news, updates, and significant events - https://urlgeni.us/TheStandard. The upgraded app will be available in late April.