The animal appeared larger than a squirrel and more like to a monkey. When visiting India in 2006, squirrel specialist John Koprowski first saw a Malabar gigantic squirrel, also referred to as an Indian giant squirrel.
Despite having a completely different appearance from the squirrels we’re accustomed to seeing in North America, the Malabar gigantic squirrel is undoubtedly a species of squirrel. For starters, Malabar gigantic squirrels are enormous; their bodies measure 36 inches from head to tail, making them twice as big as an eastern grey squirrel.
“These are giants!” Koprowski, professor and associate director at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, told The Dodo.
It’s not only the Malabar giant squirrel’s size that’s impressive — the color of his fur is also unique. It can be black, brown and orange, as well as maroon and purple. The maroon and purple shades, in particular, are unusual in mammals, Koprowski explained.
Koprowski claims that this remarkable colouring genuinely aids these enormous squirrels in surviving in the wild and isn’t merely for show.
According to Koprowski, “the patchwork colors and dark tints are a superb adaptation to avoiding discovery in the darkened understory of a thick forest.” However, when you see these in the sun, they reveal their “true hues” and lovely pelage fur.
Malabar giant squirrels also have large furry ear tufts and robust forelimbs, which add to their distinctive appearance. They live primarily in the forest canopy, leaping from tree to tree to find food, rarely touching the ground.
Unfortunately, most people aren’t going to see these squirrels just by looking out the window.
To observe them in the wild, you have to travel to eastern or southern India and trek into the forest — but even then, it can be difficult to spot them.
According to Pizza Ka Yee Chow, a research scholar at Hokkaido University and a specialist in squirrels, “they are rather bashful.”
The best method to observe these enormous squirrels, according to one of my friends who lives in India, is to climb a tree, keep extremely quiet, and wait for them to leave their nest.
At the moment, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Malabar giant squirrel as a species of “least concern,” which means they’re not currently threatened by extinction. However, their populations are still declining, and these giant squirrels could be in danger in the future if they’re not protected.
The true concern, according to Koprowski, is the gradual loss and deterioration of wooded ecosystems brought on by human settlement and the effects of climate change on higher elevation places. The good news is that they are widely dispersed and appear to accept human presence, even a small amount of low-density dwellings.
The Malabar gigantic squirrel should endure for a very, very long time.
They belong to an old group of squirrels, according to Koprowski. They are a special evolutionary group that has existed for a long period, which is helpful.
The presence of these squirrels makes the world a more wonderful place, that much is certain.
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