Distribution and relative abundance of giant squirrels and flying squirrels in Karnataka, India / Distribution et abondance relative des espèces d'écureuils géants et volants à Karnataka, Inde

Abstract

We assessed the distribution and relative abundance of giant squirrels and flying squirrels in the state of Karnataka, India. Two species of giant squirrels, the Indian giant squirrel and the grizzled giant squirrel, and two species of flying squirrel, the large brown flying squirrel and the small Travancore flying squirrel, were found to occur in Karnataka. Indian giant squirrels and large brown flying squirrels were more widely distributed than the other two species. The distributional range included the forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats. However, their distribution was confined only to forests with tall trees. Indian giant squirrels and large brown flying squirrels occur in both deciduous and evergreen forests. Small Travancore flying squirrels occupied high-rainfall evergreen forests on western slopes in the Western Ghats, and the grizzled giant squirrels occupy riverine forests. This report of the small Travancore flying squirrel is the first of this species from Karnataka, and this population is the most northern population of its distributional range. Hunting was found to be a major threat, and influenced the abundance of all species except the grizzled giant squirrel. Hunting was primarily for domestic consumption.

First photographic record of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis Elliot, 1839 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India

“…In the global context, this species is of 'Least Concern' (Walston et al 2016). However, a few studies on P. philippensis indicate its decreasing status in India due to hunting (Nandini 2000a,b), anthropogenic disturbances, habitat destruction, and agricultural encroachment (Kumara & Singh 2004, 2006). Here we report first photographic record of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel in Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, eastern India.…”

“…Sreekar et al 2012), Karnataka(Nandini 2000;Kumara & Singh 2004, 2006, Kerala & Tamil Nadu (Rajamani 2000; Umapathy & Kumar 2000; Nandini 2001), Maharashtra (Nandini 2001), Madhya Pradesh & southern Rajasthan (Tehsin 1980; Chundawat et al 2002; Sharma 2007; Koli 2012; Koli et al 2013b), and West Bengal, Bihar, & Goa…”