PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Ramnagar
In a significant boost to wildlife conservation, the rare Indian Giant Flying Squirrel has been spotted once again in the Ramnagar Forest Division adjoining Corbett Tiger Reserve after a gap of nearly 12 years. The nocturnal mammal was rescued after it wandered into a villager’s house, with wildlife experts describing the sighting as a positive indicator of the region’s rich biodiversity.
It was found inside a house in Teda village under the Kosi Range of Ramnagar Forest Division, the Forest officers said, adding that its large size and distinctive appearance had surprised local residents, who immediately informed the Forest Department. Rescue experts Ashish Kashyap and Rajesh Kashyap reached the spot and safely rescued the animal.
After examination, forest officials confirmed it to be an Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, a species known for its remarkable ability to glide between trees. Although commonly referred to as a ‘flying squirrel,’ it does not actually fly like a bird. Instead, it uses a membrane of skin, known as the patagium, stretched between its fore and hind limbs to glide through the air for distances of nearly 60 to 80 metres.
According to the Forest department officials, the last recorded sighting of this rare species in the Ramnagar area was in 2014 in the Dhikuli-Garjia forest belt. Its reappearance after about 12 years is being viewed as an encouraging sign for wildlife conservation and the ecological health of the region, the wildlife enthusiasts said.
A wildlife expert Sanjay Chhimwal said the species is also known as the Malabar Giant Flying Squirrel, as it is widely distributed in the Malabar region of the Western Ghats. In Uttarakhand, it is primarily found in the dense forests of Ranikhet, Lansdowne, Pithoragarh, Chakrata and Mussoorie. Its rediscovery in the Shivalik foothills around Ramnagar and Corbett is considered a rare and exciting event.
Speaking of the matter, the sub-divisional forest officer Ankit Badola said that the species is strictly nocturnal and is therefore rarely seen during the daytime. Following the rescue, the squirrel underwent a health examination and will soon be released back into its natural habitat. The sighting will also be officially documented in the department’s wildlife records.
Experts believe that the return of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel highlights the fact that the forests of Ramnagar continue to provide a safe habitat for several rare and elusive wildlife species, reflecting the success of ongoing conservation efforts in the landscape.
