PITHORAGARH: A small Kashmir flying squirrel (Eoglaucomys fimbriatus) has been spotted in the Ranikhet town of Almora district, according to the Uttarakhand forest department’s research wing. It is a rare species of flying squirrel that has been seen in Uttarakhand after 25 years.
Sanjeev Chaturvedi, chief conservator (research) Uttarakhand forest, told TOI, “In India, 13 species of flying squirrel are found. However, a study to ascertain the number of flying squirrel species in Uttarakhand is yet to be conducted. So far, the research wing of the Uttarakhand forest department has spotted four species of flying squirrel in the hill state."
“The Kashmir flying squirrel is a small creature, mostly found in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. It was last seen in Ranikhet in 1997. Under a project to ascertain the distribution of flying squirrel species in Uttarakhand, we set up cameras at several places on August 14. Two days later, a Kashmir flying squirrel was spotted,” said Jyoti Prakesh, a researcher working for the Uttarakhand forest department.
Prakesh added that the number of rare squirrel species is on a decline as forest cover is depleting rapidly. “We must save their habitats to save them,” he said.
