Three fishing cat kittens have been rescued from a paddy field in Saltha, Faridpur. Farmers found them while harvesting paddy and they were handed over to the forest department.

After their rescue, the three kittens were taken on Monday afternoon (24 November) to the Faridpur forest department, where they are being cared for. The forest department says they will be released once they have grown.

Earlier, on Sunday afternoon (23 November), Rasel Matubbar of Notkhola village in Sonapur union rescued the three kittens from a paddy field.

Rasel Matubbar told Jagonews: "I saw the kittens in the middle of the field while harvesting paddy in Notkhola field. I thought they were fishing cat kittens. Their mother ran away. They didn't seem safe out in the open, and I felt very sorry for them, so I rescued them and took them home. Then the forest department was told, and its people came and took the three kittens."

Tawhid Hossain, forest ranger (Purbagangabardi SFNTC) of the forest department in Faridpur, told Jagonews: "After getting the news, the three kittens were brought to us. They are fishing cat kittens, which are not often seen. They are generally harmless and eat rats on farmland."

He said the kittens are about a month old and can walk, but it would not be right to release such young animals now. So they are being fed fish and cared for, and will be released in a safe place once grown.

Divisional Forest Officer Md Tariqul Islam told Jagonews: "The three fishing cat kittens are in our custody for now. They will be released once they have been raised and have grown."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.