home icon user icon
Welcome to International Network for Natural Sciences | INNS Pub.
Home My Account
Submit Manuscript
double_slash
breadcumb_bg

Population studies of Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica indica) in Umblebyle Range Forest, Shimoga, Karnataka

Paper Details

Research Paper 17/06/2023
Views (289) Download (45)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Population studies of Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica indica) in Umblebyle Range Forest, Shimoga, Karnataka

V. Hamsa Rekha, A. Shwetha
J. Bio. Env. Sci.22( 6), 227-233, June 2023.
Certificate: JBES 2023 [Generate Certificate]
Key: Giant SquirrelLine transectPopulation studiesRatufa indica indica

Abstract

Ratufa indica indica commonly known as Malabar Giant Squirrel is an arboreal, upper canopy dwelling sub-species endemic to India restricted to Western Ghats. The present study attempts to estimate the population density of Ratufa indica indica in Umblebyle Range Forest, although similar studies are conducted in the past elsewhere, no previous study was conducted in the study area. Umblebyle Range Forest is located in the foot hills of Western Ghats adjoining Bhadra Tiger Reserve and is subjected to pressure from the villages surrounding it. The survey used line transect methodology to collect the data laid out using ARC GIS software, walking over 20 line transects covering a total area of 8753.89 Ha with an effort of 47.7kms. The study revealed the density of Malabar Giant Squirrel to be 2.32 ± 0.24 individuals / km2. The current study will provide baseline data for the comparison in future studies. The present study addresses urgent need for improving the habitat making it suitable to conserve the animal in its habitat.

VIEWS 53
Cover PDF

Abdulali H, Daniel JC. 1952. Race of the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 50, 469-474.

Altmann J. 1974. Observational study of behaviour sampling method. Behaviour 49, 227-265. https:// doi.org /10.1163/156853974X00534.

Amol K, Anup P, Gaurang P. 2012. Some Observation on Dray Building and Jumping Behavior of Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa Indica (Erxleben, 1777). Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology 2(4), 366-368.

Aparajita D, GoyaI SP. 1996. Comparison of Forest Structure and Use by the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) in Two Riverine Forests of Central India. Biotropica 28(3), 394-399. https://doi.org /10.2307/2389203.

Basanta KN, Ajay KP. 2015. Feeding and nesting ecology of Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) (Erxleben 1777) in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Balasore, Odhisha, India and its conservation. International Journal of Bioassays 4(03), 3741-3746.

Borges R. 1989. Resource heterogeneity and the foraging ecology of the Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica). PhD Thesis, University of Miami, Florida.

Borges R, Mali RS, Somanathan H. 1998. The status, ecology and conservation of the Malabar Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica. Final report, Wildlife Institute of India.

Buckland ST, Anderson DR, Burnham KP, Laake JL. 1993. Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Chapman & Hall, London.

Devcharan JN, Samba K, Ullas KK. 2008. Measuring Indian Giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) abundance in southern India using distance sampling. Special editing: Arboreal squirrel. Current Science 95(7), 885-888.

Keystone Foundation. 2015. Forests plants of the Nilgiris Southern Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve- A pictorial field guide. Keystone Foundation, Tamil Nadu 365pp.

Mishra AT, Kazmi SEH, Satya P. 2011. Nesting and Feeding Behaviour of Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Jamshedpur (Jharkhand). The Indian Forester 137(10), 1155-1159.

Nagarajan B, Venkatesan S, Mani J, Sanjay KS, Ajay AD. 2011. Some aspects of the ecology of the Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica (Erxleben, 1777) in the tropical forests of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, southern India and their conservation implications. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(7), 1899-1908. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2593.1899-8.

Navendu Page. 2017. Endemic woody plants of the Western Ghats. Trail Blazer Printers and Publishers, Bangalore 207pp.

Pradhan AK, Shrotriya S, Rout SD, Dash PK. 2017. Nesting and feeding habits of the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) in Karlapat wildlife sanctuary, India. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 40(1), 63-69. https://doi.org /10.32800 /abc.2017.40.0063.

Prater SH. 1980. The Book of Indian Animals. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. 348 pp.

Ramachandran KK. 1988. Ecology and behaviour of Malabar giant squirrel, Ratufa indica maxima (Schreber) 1788. Report of the Project Wild 04/83. Division of Wildlife Biology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala 47pp.

Ramachandran KK. 1992. Certain aspects of ecology and behaviour of Malabar Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica (Schreber). PhD Thesis. Department of Zoology, University of Kerala 191pp.

Ravi SK. 2008. Nesting sites of Indian giant squirrels in Sitanadi wildlife Sanctuary, India. Current Science 95(7), 882-884.

Samson A. 2020. Nesting Behaviour of (Ratufa indica Erxleben 1777) in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(7), 1899-1908.

Satya P, Anil KM, Mohammad R. 2011. Studies on the nesting habits of Indian giant squirrel Ratufa indica centralis (Ryley, 1913) in Dalma wildlife sanctuary, Jharkhand, India. Columban Journal of Life Science 12(1&2), 9-18.

Submit Manuscript