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The Indian giant squirrel and other giant squirrels are facing danger as they lose their habitat. Farmers shoot at them when they forage for food on farmlands that have been developed into what was their domain.
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There are well over two hundred species of squirrel and three of them are the Malabar Giant Squirrel, the Black Giant Squirrel and the Grizzled Giant Squirrel who all make their homes in India. Giant squirrels are aptly named as each of them weighs a kilogram or even more. They share some similarities with their small cousins but they also have some things that are special just to them. Here is a look at some of those squirrelly facts. Ratufabicolor aka the Black Giant Squirrel - This squirrel is also called the Malayan Giant Squirrel and is one of the biggest in the world. It is one you can spot in various nature reserves in the north east of India where it eats leaves, seeds and fruits and will come down on the ground to forage. It is black-brown in colour and then has a pale belly. It averages at 1 to 1.25kg in weight and its body length is 34 to 37cm and the tail is 41 to 42 cm long.
Ratufaindica aka the Indian Giant Squirrel - This giant squirrel is also known as the Malabar Giant Squirrel and is found in a number of places across India especially Madhya Pradesh, the Western Ghats, the Satpura range and the Easter Ghats. It is a rufous brownypurply colour and prefers evergreen and tropical semi-deciduous and deciduous forests and woods. It jumps around from one tree to another very quickly and is hardly ever seen on the ground. It can jump as high as 6 metres. It eats nuts, fruits, flowers and bark. It averages a weight of 1.5 to 2kg and its head-to-body length is 25 to 50cm and its tail is the same again or even longer.
Ratufamacroura aka the Grizzled Giant Squirrel - Also known as the Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel this is a creature you can find in areas that have montane forests such as in the south, in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This is again mostly arboreal staying in the trees and will only come down if they are looking for a mate or escaping from a predator. It eats bark, fruit and buts and also will look for and eat bird eggs. It is pale underneath and white and brown on top. It is 25 to 45 cm long head and body with a tail that is that again or more.
These giants are facing habitat loss - The Indian giant squirrel and other giant squirrels are facing danger as they lose their habitat. Farmers shoot at them when they forage for food on farmlands that have been developed into what was their domain. It is suggested that the Malayan Giant Squirrel might lose as much as 90% of its numbers in the next 30 years. It is essential more is done to help them, and while you explore their locations to see if you can spot them, you could at the same time help towards its conservation.
