An Mysterious Red-Furred Creature Spotted in Borneo May Be a New Predator Species
A creature slightly larger than a domestic cat, featuring dark red fur and a long tail, has been captured on film in the dense forests of Borneo, Indonesia. This sighting could indicate the existence of a new carnivorous species.
The animal was recorded twice by cameras set up by researchers from WWF working in Kayan Mentarang National Park, located on the island of Borneo, Indonesia.
Its overall shape, characterized by a long snout, small ears, and powerful hind legs, suggests it is a carnivore. It also bears some resemblance to a civet or a mongoose and may belong to that group, or possibly a completely new category.
“It is very difficult to determine whether this is an entirely new species or just a variant of an already known species“, stated Nick Isaac, a researcher at the Zoological Society of London.
“We showed local people pictures of the animal, but none had ever seen it. We also consulted some wildlife experts in Borneo. Some thought it resembled a lemur, but most believe it is a carnivore“, added Stephan Wulffraat, a biologist at WWF.
He believes that the only way to definitively determine whether this unusual animal belongs to a new species is to capture it.
M.T. (New Scientist)
