Some Observation on Dray Building and Jumping Behavior of Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa Indica (Erxleben, 1777)
Journal Title: Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology - Year 2012, Vol 2, Issue 4
Abstract
The ability of arboreal forms to leap from great heights without harm is valuable adaptation to life high above the ground surface (Koli et al., 2011). Tree squirrel commonly occupy nests to avoid predators and rear young (Setoguchi, 1991) and prefer upper canopy level of forest as it arboreal nature. In Indian jungles Ratufa indica is a major arboreal mammal species and very few literatures available on its behavioral aspects. Datta (1999) reported day time use of dray and predation attempts on Ratufa indica by crested hawk-eagle. Indian giant squirrel have tendency to build dray in dense forest with closed canopies, sites were along the annual river or area where sufficient moisture in summer (Kanoje, 2008). In present study we reported observation on dray building behavior and jumping success of Indian giant squirrel. Observation were conducted during study of All India Tiger Monitoring Project in Satpura Tiger Reserve (220 19’ - 220 30’N and 770 56’ - 780 20’E) with an area of 1427.87 km2 (Figure 1) in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India (Kumbhar et al., 2011). The terrain is hilly and highly undulating. Forest is mainly dominated by Tactona grandis, Shorea robusta, Bauchania latifolia, Terminalia arjuna, Emblica officinalis, Madhuca indica, Rauwolfia surpentina. The forest types consists of Southern moist mixed deciduous forest, Southern dry mixed deciduous forest, Dry peninsulas Sal forest (Champion and Seth, 1968). Field observations were opportunistically conducted while performing other field work project entitled “Monitoring Tigers, Co-predators, Prey and their Habitat” in the study area during intensive study period of October 2010 to February 2011. Dray building behaviour was observed in riparian habitat near Churnagundi Nala surrounded by moist deciduous forest and jumping behaviour was observed in whole tiger reserve on various occasions.
Authors and Affiliations
Amol Kumbhar, Anup Pradhan, Gaurang Patwardhan
Keywords
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