Indian giant squirrel sighting during tiger survey augurs well for Pune forest’s biodiversity

The Indian giant squirrel, or the Malabar giant squirrel, is a large, multi-coloured tree squirrel species endemic to forests and woodlands in India. It is found at higher altitudes in tropical deciduous and moist evergreen woodlands. In general, its distribution is considered fragmented because it is intolerant of habitat degradation.

The Malabar Giant Squirrel was assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016 and has been listed as “Least Concern” as per this list. This species is listed as Least Concern because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, and it is unlikely to be declining at the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

Mangesh Madhukar Tate, Assistant Conservator of Forests, described the sighting as significant. “Shekru is typically found in dense, evergreen forests with rich flora and fauna. You do not see them easily in degraded habitats. Their presence indicates that the forest has the necessary resources to sustain complex wildlife,” he said.

Arboreal and elusive, the giant squirrel plays a key role in forest regeneration through seed dispersal. Its appearance, Tate noted, is relatively rare in the Pune division, with more regular sightings usually limited to remote Western Ghats regions such as Bhimashankar. A previous sighting in the Maval area had already hinted at the ecological value of these forests.

The tiger estimation survey also tracks other species, and recent observations have included mouse deer, sambar deer, and tiger signs, indicating the ecological health of the region’s biodiversity.

Tate stressed that conservation extends beyond forest departments. “Protecting forests is a fundamental duty. Urbanisation, superstition and hostility towards wildlife have increased pressures on habitats.
Conservation begins with awareness and simple steps such as growing trees, reporting harm, and remembering that the natural world is not merely a playground for humans,” he said.

More detailed findings on wildlife and habitat health in these forests are expected as the survey’s next phase concludes.

Shreenija Dandavate is an intern with The Indian Express.