How preserving forests could save the Indian giant squirrel
- November 24, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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How preserving forests could save the Indian giant squirrel
Subject: Environment
Giant Squirrel species in India-
- Among the four global giant squirrels, three are found in India
- the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica),
- the black giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) and
- the grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura).
- Of these, only the IGS (or the Malabar giant squirrel) is endemic to India.
- The mammal can exhibit different colour patterns with shades of black, brown and deep red being the most predominant.
- The IGS shares a characteristic of rodents: nibbling
Habitat-
- The Indian giant squirrel (IGS) was found in the deciduous, mixed deciduous or moist evergreen forests of India.
- It can be found across the Western Ghats, parts of the Eastern Ghats and the Satpura ranges.
- It is also the state animal of Maharashtra, where it is called shekru in Marathi.
Conservation status-
- Currently listed in the Least Concern category of the IUCN Red List.
Food-
- It primarily feeds on fruits, flowers, seeds, leaves, bark, and occasionally on insects and bird eggs.
Role in the ecosystem-
- It is an indicator species, indicative of a healthy forest
- balancing the forest’s ecological systems
- Seed dispersal
- Forest growth
- Indirectly supports the local wildlife population
- Reducing the human-wildlife conflict indirectly
Challenges and threats
- Being an arboreal species, the IGS needs access to a wide area of trees offering fruits, insects and barks as well as breeding opportunities.
- Habitat destruction,
- Habitat alteration like fragmentation,
- the building of roads and laying of power lines, and
- cutting of old and tall trees.
- Roadkill by the vehicles
- Poaching, especially in the Eastern Ghats