First photographic record of Ferret Badger <Melogale> sp. Saint-Hilaire, 1831 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Mustelidae) from the state of Tripura, India

Photographic records of the elusive Ferret Badger Melogale sp. were documented from the tropical evergreen forest interspersed with patches of jhum (shifting) cultivation in the state of Tripura, India. Numerous photos on multiple occasions were documented using camera traps set up in the Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary during a mammalian survey; a total of 40 pictures were captured in a semi-dry seasonal stream which was located in between two active patches of jhum. The pictures documented the nocturnal foraging behavior of this lesser known species. This study provides the inaugural documented evidence of the Ferret Badger’s presence in the state of Tripura. Previous camera-trap records come from neighboring states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam, emphasizing the importance of continued research to comprehensively map species distributions. Records like these, although seem anecdotal, bear invaluable significance in unraveling ecology and habitat use of these lesser studied species.