Nature and Trees - A Squirrel - A Wonderful Creation Of Nature
4,488 views · Published 4 March 2012 · 4:11 · Indexed 22 September 2026
Channel: Menora James · 2012 · Pets & Animals
(Pls Watch in Full HD 720 or 1080 ) I found this amazing Grizzled Giant Squirrel on a tree in front of my resort hotel room during my holidays. There were a few notices put up by the hotel indicating that wild animals are not to be fed. Since this squirrel looked rather tame and more familiar with the surroundings I thought of giving it a banana :) May be it was used to the hotel guests feeding it. I was very close and was able to admire it while it was feeding itself. The surrounding of the resort hotel chalet where we stayed was rather interior and was bordering a Wildlife Sanctuary. Grizzled Giant Squirrel - (Ratufa Macroura) ================================= The grizzled giant squirrel is a large tree squirrel found in the highlands of Sri Lanka and India. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as near threatened due to habitat loss and hunting. Countries - Native - India , Sri Lanka Taxonomic Notes - There are three very distinct subspecies, with one present in India and all three present in Sri Lanka. Red List Category & Criteria - Near Threatened Justification - Listed as Near Threatened because this species is probably in significant decline due to habitat loss and hunting throughout much of its range. Range Description - This species is endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. In India it is known from only five severely fragmented locations, while it occurs more widely and less fragmented in Sri Lanka. Population - The Indian population has been estimated to be fewer than 500 mature individuals, and the population has been decling due to habitat loss and hunting The population of this species is considerably higher in Sri Lanka. Habitat and Ecology - It is a diurnal and arboreal species. It occurs in tropical dry deciduous and montane forests, where it is confined to the riverine habitats. It has a generation time of ~7-8 years. Major Threats- Habitat loss and degradation due to agro-industry farming, small-scale logging, selective logging, increase in human settlements, forest fire, inter-specific competition, competition from alien species, hunting for local consumption purposes, presence of domestic predators have been observed to be the major threats for this species. The grizzled giant squirrel's common name came from the grey to brown colouration highlighted with white at the top of the tail, giving it a grizzled appearance. The rest of the body varies in colour geographically and may be brown, red, grey or black, but the fur on the underside is always lighter than the back. This agile climber is adapted for life spent almost entirely in the trees, and has a very long tail for balance, broad hands for climbing and large claws for gripping branches. The ears are short, round and sometimes tufted. Music By Lohstana David from Jamendo .com
