Maharashtra- Indian giant squirrel
Common Name: Indian giant squirrel, Malabar giant squirrel
Local Name: Shekaru (Marathi), Kenjjiri (Coorgi)
Scientific Name: Ratufa indica
Description: The largest unstriped squirrel, measuring between 25 and 50 centimeters from head to body, is the Indian Giant Squirrel. Its tail and body are almost the same length. The Indian Giant Squirrel weighs between 1.5 and 2 kg and has a variety of color patterns, the most common being colors of black, brown, and maroon. Moreover, body color differs among subspecies.
Distribution: The Western Ghats, portions of the Eastern Ghats, and the Satpura mountains are home to the endemic Indian giant squirrel, which can be found in sporadic places throughout southern and central India. These squirrels are arboreal by nature, living in the top canopy of damp and dry deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen woods. It can grasp the tree branches and bark thanks to its strong, huge claws. They seldom venture below the tall forest canopy and instead construct several globe-shaped nests in towering trees with many branches. The squirrel reverberates throughout the forests it inhabits with its high-pitched alarm calls and piercing noises.
Threats: Habitat destruction, habitat alterations like fragmentation, construction of roads and power lines, and deforestation pose a significant threat to the Indian Giant Squirrel population