Zoo toddy cat gives birth to four kittens

CHENNAI:  An Asian palm civet, commonly known as the toddy cat, gave birth to four kittens at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur today. The species, native to South and Southeast Asia, is part of the nocturnal animal collection at the park.The normal size of a litter is three or four kittens. The mother is being given a special diet of milk, roti, fruits and eggs. Mother and kittens are being kept away from other animals as a safety precaution.The small member of the Viverridae family has the scientific name Paradoxurus hermaphroditus. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the species as ‘Least Concern’, as it is found in several regions, with large populations that seem unlikely to decline.With the birth of these four civet kittens on Saturday, the number of toddy cats in the Vandalur zoo goes up to 10.