Moonrat spotted for first time in Krabi forest

KRABI, Feb 20 (TNA) - A moonrat, protected wildlife was found for the first time in Krabi, said a wildlife sanctuary head. Wutthipong Chusangrat, head of the Khao Pra – Bang Kram wildlife sanctuary said seeing the images of the animal, he presumed that the animal, found by a defense volunteer is a moonrat (Echinosorex Gymnurus), not a hog badger. It looks like a rat but has long nose and mouth like a pig. He said the moonrat feed on insects at night. Its habitat is rainforest in southern Thailand and on the Malayan Peninsula. When it is excited or on guard, it gives off pungent ammonia-like odor. This is the first time the moonrat was found in Krabi forest, the sanctuary chief said. Pornchai Sudrak, a defence volunteer said he found the weak rat-like animal, about 30 centimetres long near his house when his dog was barking but no one has ever seen such an animal before. He was later told by a local official that it is the moonrat. He put it in a cage for resting and when it regains strength, he will release it back to the wild. (TNA)