Forest Department Plans Population Study of Grey Giant Squirrels in Pakkamalai and Gangavaram Hills

A giant squirrel of a grizzly bear was found in the Pakkamalai Reserve forest near Jinji in Virupuram district. |Picture source: Special arrangement

The Veruplam Forest Ministry plans to conduct population studies of grizzly giant squirrels, and many have been found in Pakkamalai and Gangavaram Hills, a region of biodiversity near Gingee in the region.

Official sources said the study will help the department develop conservation strategies by collecting baseline data from squirrels, an endangered species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972 and provide a fill in the long-term need to inform hills of hills as wildlife reserves.

According to regional forest official K. Karthikeyani, “The main purpose of population research is to develop conservation measures. Since squirrels’ habitat has been identified, population research has been planned with the help of subject matter experts and volunteers to better understand their ecosystems and help us work on conservation strategies.”

It is generally known that this grey giant squirrel will nest in the western ghats of southern India, from the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu. Due to habitat loss and poaching, the species has been classified as threatened by the red list and is listed under Schedule II of Cites.

Request to announce the protected area

Notifying the demand of the hills first proposed a request for a wildlife reserve in 2019. The area was first notified as a reserve forest in 1897, and since then the area has provided protection for the flora and fauna found here.

Pakkamalai and Gangavaram are rich in biodiversity and are geographically crucial areas of the Eastern Ghatt. According to the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972, a good forested giant grey squirrel, grey Langel, Peggillin and critical golden gecko are listed.

“The abundant tropical birds are also documented here, including the yellow-throated bulb, the cave nests of Nagarjuna Sagar Racer Snake, Leschenaus Snake Eye Lizard and Gooty Tarantula.

“The discovery of bamboo pit venomous snakes and gun toads is also documented, one of the most well-known endemic toads, in addition to the rare sight of large predators (such as leopards and lazy bears) as well as different species of cave bats. Adhatodasengiana and Drypetes Porteri It is also recorded on the mountain. ” he added.

“Areas spanning 7,000 hectares must become wildlife reserves. The forest sector has submitted a proposal to the government in 2022 that the right decision should be made in the interests of the environment and its abundant biodiversity.”

Naturalist K. Raman believes: “There is no detailed study on why these squirrels are frequently in the Eastern Ghats. Population studies will help understand their distribution in the region and identify threats to the species. Healthy forests are needed to support the squirrels.”