The rescuing centre in Bach Ma National Park has received a rare wild cat following efforts by a resident of central Thua Thien-Hue Province.

The wild cat found at a home cage in Hue City. — Photo provided by the Department of Forest Rangers

Earlier last weekend, Hoang Anh Tuan, a local in the province’s municipal Hue City, discovered the cat in a home cage when he was passing by a house in the city. Tuan succeeded in persuading the owner and informed the province’s Department of Forest Rangers to take the animal.

Checks by the national park’s rescuing staff revealed the poor health condition of the 6kg cat. It has two weak rear legs and finds it hard to move around.

An official of the rescuing centre said the cat needs time for rehabilitation before the centre releases it into nature in the park.

The wild cat, which has the scientific name of Felis silvestris, is listed among the least concern category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list. In Viet Nam, a governmental resolution for the management of wildlife conservation recognised the cat as a species prohibited from caging and trading.

Many Vietnamese remain fond of caging wild animals, including monkeys, cats and birds to entertain themselves and to use them to show off their wealth. — VNS