Smart as Nature

Malabar Giant Squirrel

I have been frequenting the Crain Hill Reserve for more then 5 years now and I haven’t come any closer to this guy then this perhaps it has got immune to the human presence – a naturally shy diurnal, arboreal mammal the MGS Malabar Giant Squirrel or the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica ) is a strange story of adaptation in the high altitudes of Nilgiris, they are the only found squirrel species (thrives in 180 to 2,300 msl) in the high altitudes of Nilgiris apart from isolated occurrence of Flying squirrels, and if you have to believe the forest departments theory then MGS is more of a introduced species here. As far as the adaptation part goes the species which is not tolerant of habitat degradation and does not occur in plantations but here they have thrived in man made monocultured forest scapes mostly populated by the towering eucalyptus & cypress trees it is strange because these wooded areas hardy supported their source of nourishments. But they as seed disburser’s have managed to create a subsystem around these forest to meet their dietary requirements. Thus the MGS thrives here it is natures way of improvising if left to fend itself with lil bit of help from us. I wanted to continue on about the Crain Hill Reserve  I reserve that for nother elaborate entry. 

For now I would like to share about something that I felt the Nilgiris can be better off

            -          the Nutrino Project has been shifted out of the Mudumalai
                  Tiger Reserve  Link

-          MoEF’s promise to look in to the Tourism Policy  Link

-          MoEF’s comprehensive legislation to protect the bio-diversity hotspot     Link

Now for every 3 good things to happen there will be something bad to write as well so 

         

An alternative road to Ooty right through the last remaining free ranging corridor for the
Asiatic Elephants.     Link