Rare achievement for Wildlife Protection Department

Rajouri, Aug 09: In a rare achievement for Department of Wildlife Protection, the range office of department has discovered India's first Brandt's Hedgehog.

The discovery of this animal has been confirmed by DNA sampling results by an International level platform.

Hedgehog is a spinny mammal with three of its species were earlier found in the country that primarily include Indian Long Eared Hedgehog. The animal is considered to be omnivores one eating whatever they can get into their mouths with spikes all over its body make it a unique animal and it also make scary noise on sensing some risk.

In March this year, the staff of Wildlife Protection under the umbrella of Rajouri regional office captured a Hedgehog from Nowshera area which was followed by capturing of another animal from Rajouri and initially it was presumed to be an Indian Long Eared Hedgehog and it was considered to be an achievement and for the first time ever that a Hedgehog was discovered in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, now, the achievement of wildlife department has gone bigger as the captured animal has turned out to be Brandt's Hedgehog instead of Indian Long Eared and this is for the first time that this animal has ever been found in India.

Regional Widlife Warden, Amit Sharma said that in initial stages of capturing of the mammal, it was presumed that it is an Indian Long Eared Hedgehog owing to its physical features.

"As per our protocol, we conducted a DNA sampling of the captured animals which were sent to an international platform as per our procedure and the reports are astonishing for us," Sharma said adding that after DNA reports, it has been found that the captured animal is Brandt's Hedgehog instead of Indian Long Eared Hedgehog.

Wildlife Warden Amit Sharma, who is considered to a wildlife expert having vast experience in studies and dealing with animals and birds, further said that it is a dream for every wildlife officer to get hands over any such species which is never ever reported in the area but it is like a golden dream if we discover a species for the first time in entire country.

" We have discovered two Brandt's Hedgehog in Rajouri so far. One among these is still with regional officer for further studies and understandings while other one has been shifted to a higher facility for studies," Amit Sharma further said. He added that confirmed reports of DNA samples has given “us a reason to smile for entire life.”

He further complimented the spirit and zeal of his field staff to discover Hedgehog in dense forests of Rajouri areas stating that it was hardwork of months together that the mammal was captures after its reported sighting in the area.