Learn about Indian Giant Squirrel

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Introduction of Indian Giant Squirrel

The Indian Giant Squirrel is a large rodent species that is native to India.
It's a type of tree squirrel, but with more colours and a larger size than the typical tree squirrel.
The Malabar Giant Squirrel is also another common name for this species.
The Indian Giant Squirrel is largely arboreal in nature, and it spends a significant amount of its time in the branches of trees.
It is most commonly seen in tropical rainforest environments.
They are mostly found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Central Indian Forests and in North-East India.
The Indian Giant Squirrel is classified as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
However, The Indian Giant Squirrel's population is decreasing due to the loss of its habitat environment.
It is the state animal of the Indian state of Maharashtra, where it is also known as the 'Shekru'.

The Indian Giant Squirrel is one of the largest squirrels in the world.
Its tail is considerably longer than its overall body length.
While the average size of the body is 10-18 inches, the tail can be as long as 16-24 inches depending on the subspecies.
It is this lengthy tail that aids in the maintenance of balance when moving.
The Indian Giant Squirrel weighs between 1.5 and 2 kg.
They has the ability to jump up to 7 metres between trees.
This animal has three different colour schemes on its coat.
Their colour patterns are found in various shades including black, red, and a wide range of shades of these two colours.
Their underbodies are white and again there are a wide variety of shades, as well as white or cream-coloured limbs.
The animal has pink lips and a pink nose on its face along with rodent-like hairs.
They have strong claws that allow it to grab tree branches securely, and a robust jaw with sharp incisors that allows it to consume hard nuts and fruits.

It is estimated that an Indian Giant Squirrel has a lifespan of 20 years in captivity, but that it has a shorter lifespan in the wild due to predators.
The mating season for this species is between October and February.
During the whole breeding season, the male squirrel stays with the female squirrel.
It takes 28 to 35 days for a female to conceive a child (average gestation period). Between 2 and 3 young are born in a single litter.
The Malabar Giant Squirrel prefers to build its nests on taller trees to escape being attacked by predators.
Using leaves and twigs, it constructs spherical nests on top of the trees.
To prevent huge predators from reaching their nest, the Indian Giant Squirrel typically constructs their nest in thin branches.
Each Squirrel constructs several nests, each with its own set of necessities, such as resting, nursing, and so on.

The Indian Giant Squirrel is typically solitary, however, it does occasionally congregate with its partners for extended periods.
The Indian Giant Squirrel is a fast and agile creature that likes to spend much of its time in the branches of trees.
Females are typically 3 cm larger than their male counterparts.
The Indian Giant Squirrel contributes significantly to the balance of the ecosystem by distributing the seeds of the plants it consumes through its excrement, which helps to keep the biosphere in balance.
Their length tail also helps to attract partners and threats, other males.
Animals of this species are diurnal, which means that they are most active in the early morning and late afternoon; nonetheless, they are continually on the lookout for potential threats.
They are extremely vocal, and their calls are quite loud.
While on the ground, they fled from the danger; in the tree, however, they merely freeze and attempt to blend in with the surroundings.
It camouflages itself by just freezing on the spot to avoid being seen by predators.
These are friendly animals which can even be fed by a human hands.

They are omnivorous.
The Indian Giant Squirrel eats a variety of foods.
Fruits, flowers, nuts, tree bark, seeds, insects, and bird eggs are among the foods it consumes.
It eats while standing on its back legs and with its hands.