Civet sparks panic at Indian parliament complex

A wild palm civet made its way into the Indian parliament, triggering panic and sending the security staff into a tizzy, reports said.

A New Delhi-based animal rights group rescued the shy animal hiding behind a television set, after receiving calls from parliament staff on its helpline, the Times of India said.

The mammal with a cat-like appearance breached multiple security tiers in the heavily guarded building. It had probably came looking for shelter, the report said. The animal was in a dehydrated state, and would be released into its natural habitat soon.

Officials working in government ministries located near parliament have been intimidated by monkeys in recent years.

A legislator once blamed them when government files went missing, saying the simians often "walked away" with documents. Even passengers to Delhi's international airport have not been spared the monkey business.

Some were amused to find a monkey sitting by large windows inside a terminal recently. Monitor lizards, jackals and dogs have been known to stray onto runways, holding up flights.