Rare photograph of a MMC in the wild!
Edited to add:
"The story accompanying this rare photograph has recently been uncovered. Apparently, this large splendid male has become something of a local mascot in a small upland town in Moldovia. He is well known to the local children, after developing a habit of following them on their halloween trick-or-treating. Nick-named "Rhubarb" due to his resemblance to the popular boiled sweet, he has been seen around the village with increasing frequency over the last few years. While very shy of adults, Rhubarb is relaxed and friendly with the children, possibly due to them seeming less threatening, and their tendancy to share their sweets with him. In recent months he has been seen loitering near the school grounds at break times, when children are happy to feed him with lunchbox treats.
It is thought that Rhubarb has taken to this unusual behaviour due to the encroachment of human settlements into MMC territory, and the associated deforestation and habitat loss that has made this animal so rare. Happily, Rhubarb has unintentionally raised the profile of his species, and concern for the plight of the endangered animal has soared in upland Moldovia. Having become something of an ambassador for his kind, locals say that they have no intentions of discouraging this large, imposing cat from visiting them. They have expressed the hope that Rhubarb may decide to settle down and start a family in the area, where his cubs will be made similarly welcome."
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