Meet the ‘Ghost of the Canopy’
‘The Nocturnal Acrobat’
The Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
#intothewildwithrufus
Meet the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel - a nocturnal acrobat that turns the forest canopy into its personal highway.
Spotting one of these creatures is often described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. They aren’t necessarily endangered, but they are masters of hide-and-seek! 😊
That’s because they are strictly nocturnal. Hence, without a powerful spotlight they remain invisible. (Like how we got him today!) 😊
Since they stay in the highest reaches of the canopy, identifying the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel is indeed a great challenge in itself!
A single “leap of faith” can carry them over 100 meters (300+ feet).
The Indian Giant Flying Squirrel is frugivorous by nature.
Got a lot of interesting info on the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel from the book titled, Gliding Mammals of the World, by Steven Jackson.
Excerpts from the book for us all -
Description: Although its colour varies considerably over its distribution; overall it is a strongly speckled grey above and pale grey below, without a brown or orange tinge.
Distribution: Occurs from western peninsula India, north to Rajasthan and southern Bihar (India) and Sri Lanka. Also occurs in southern China, Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
Reproduction: The female appears to produce only a single young at a time. When the young are born the nest is occupied solely by the mother.
Diet: Somewhat frugivorous, it eats wild fruit, berries, nuts, young shoots, leaves and probably the flowers and immature bark of some trees. It is especially fond of the fruit of the Mango, and Tamarind Tree. In India common food items include fruit and leaves of the Cluster Fig, Wild Durian, and Jackfruit. In the Periyar Tiger Reserve in southern India, it eats the fruits of Lakoocha, Agily, Jackfruit, Figs, Bread Tree, etc.
It is known to eat young tender coconuts, and can cause serious damage to coconut plantations.
Ecology: Lives singly, in pairs or sometimes in family groups. It makes a large nest of leaves, grass, shredded bark, and fibrous roots in the hollow of a tree or branch.
This species is most active before midnight. During hot weather it may sleep on its back with its legs and gliding membrane outspread to keep cool.
Home ranges of adult females in conifer plantations have been estimated to be 3.0–3.45 hectares. Densities range from 11.43–64 animals per square kilometre.
Known predators include the Black Crested Gibbon and large owls, including the Barred Jungle Owlet. In the Trichur District of India, farmers give coconuts as rewards to those who kill flying squirrels,
says the book.
So yes! the next time you find yourself in the Western Ghats after dark, turn off your flashlight for a moment and just listen. If you hear a piercing shriek or cry from the clouds of leaves above, look up - you might just be in the presence of one of nature’s most magnificent nocturnal acrobats! aka the Ghosts of the Canopy! 😊
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