Giant Malabar Squirrel

Giant Malabar Squirrel, Ratufa indica munching on a leaf

Giant Malabar Squirrel, Ratufa indica photographed in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka). Ratufa is genus native to India. Squirrels belonging to this genus are large-bodied tree squirrels which are diurnal, arboreal and herbivorous.

Ratufa indica has a distinctive colour scheme. The underparts and the front legs are usually cream colored, the head can be brown or beige, however there is a distinctive white spot between the ears. Adult head and body length varies and is about 36 cm. The tail length is approximately 60 cm.

The Malabar Giant Squirrel lives alone or in pairs. They build large globular nests of twigs and leaves, placing them on thinner branches where large predators cannot reach them.

Indian Flying Fox

Another spectacular sight in the Adyar Theosophical Gardens is the large congregation of Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus bats roosting among the banyan, fig, and tamarind trees. The roosting bats constantly vocalize and move about. The entire tree canopy is filled with the roosting bats and their chittering cries. This specimen was photographed at the edge of the roosting group of bats.

The Indian Flying Fox lives mainly in forests near large water bodies. It is a very large bat with a wing span of between 1.2 and 1.5 meters. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits such as mangoes and bananas and nectar. This bat is gregarious and lives in colonies which can number a few hundred. The physical appearance of this species is similar to that of megachiropterans in general, with large eyes, simple ears, and no facial ornamentation.

Three-Striped Palm Squirrel

Three-Striped Palm Squirrel, Funambulus palmarum

Managed to catch this little guy having his breakfast while perched atop a palm tree. The scientific name for the Indian Palm Squirrel, Funambulus palmarum says it all — it literally means a ‘tightrope walker on a palm’.

Palm squirrels are rodents belonging to the Sciuridae family. They are about the size of rats with a bushy tail which is slightly shorter than their body. Their back is a grizzled grey-brown colour with conspicuous white stripes, three of which run from head to tail. They have a creamy white belly and a tail covered with interspersed long black and white hairs. Their ears are small and triangular.

These squirrels eat mainly nuts and fruits. They are fairly vocal, with a cry that sounds like high- pitched “chip chip chip” when danger is present. Often an agitated squirrel will face you and excitedly scold you while raising and lowering its tail.

The palm squirrel is considered sacred for the role it played while the Adi sethu bridge was being constructed to help Lord Rama to reach Ravana’s kingdom in Lanka. Lord Rama was pleased by the little squirrel’s dedication and stroked him gently. Ever since, palm squirrels have had stripes on their bodies.