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July 10, 2015

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Raccoon dogs seen in numbers

DOZENS of raccoon dogs have been seen at a residential complex in Minhang District, Xinmin Evening News reported yesterday.

Although the animals are not common on housing estates, they have been known to inhabit the Yannanyuan residential complex on Hongmei Road for many years, the report said.

It claimed that as many as 30 have been seen “walking into the complex during the daytime.”

Others were spotted eating fish in a nearby river, an unnamed official from the property management company was quoted as saying.

Some residents are scared of the beasts, the report said, without quoting anyone.

Most of the raccoon dogs live in a large green area within the housing complex. Other animals, like weasels, foxes, badgers and golden pheasants also live there, the report said.

Xu Zhengqiang, a “wildlife expert” from Shanghai Zoo told Shanghai Daily that raccoon dogs are timid and won’t attack humans unless their nesting activity is affected.

The rich vegetation around the complex makes it an ideal place for them to live, he said, adding that the animals eat berries, mice and tree roots, among other things.

The number of raccoon dogs is expanding in the city and they have been seen in more areas in recent years, he said.

The animals have been living in Shanghai since the 1890s, but no one knows how many there are, the report said.

Xu said that he and other experts will monitor the situation at the housing complex in Minhang.


 

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