Bhootbilli on the prowl in India

Lohegaon residents say at 7 pm every day, an elusive cat-dog-mongoose creature comes to eat their pigeons and goats. A "weird, scary creature" has been giving residents of Sanjay Park area sleepless nights. Those staying near the airport in Lohegaon are complaining about a bhootbilli (ghost cat), which they say has been feeding on domestic animals and birds the past 10 days.

"The bhootbilli has been coming everyday the past 10 days around 7 pm. We had set up a lot of traps, but all turned into a flop show because whenever we would try to catch it, it would jump on the tree and sneak out somewhere," said Feroz Dilawar Khan, a driver and resident of the area. "It's fat and broad with a long tail, black in color, has a face like a dog and back like a mongoose." The bhootbilli, as it is called by the residents, has eaten around 45 pigeons and one goat within a span of 10 days which all belonged to Feroz.

Fed-up of the creature, Feroz called the police, fire brigade and forest officials on November 3 around 10 pm, but the effort went in vain. "We arrived at the spot around 10 pm, but the animal had already escaped and hid somewhere in the trees," said one of the fire officials from Yerawada, who was at the spot. The residents have again set a trap and are expecting to catch the mischief-maker this time. Hrishikesh Sutar, chairman of the Sanjay Park Society in Maharashtra said: "The residents came complaining to me around four days ago and we haven't yet identified the creature. It's smaller than a lion but bigger than a hyena and I doubt if it's a wild cat."

Shekhar Nanajkar, president of a Wild, a wildlife organisation, said: "It's a rare case but according to the description given to me it can be a civet cat who attacks only small animals and birds. But if a goat has been eaten then it's either a leopard or human being." Anil Avchite, an animal lover, who had gone to the area around midnight on Wednesday, said: "I climbed up a 40-feet coconut tree as soon as the locals contacted me. I am sure it's a civet cat. I have asked locals to get in touch with me if they see the creature again."