During my childhood, I often heard the myth about Lord Rama creating the five-striped squirrel with a stroke of his fingertips. However, on a recent trip to Chinnar, the squirrels I was in search of were a little different (or should I say a little larger) than those of my childhood memories!
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the only place in Kerala where thorny forest tracts can be found, seemed strange to me at first, as there are very few places in this state that do not receive rain from the southwest monsoon. The sanctuary is home to flagship* species such as the star tortoise and the protagonist of our story, the grizzled giant squirrel.
One day during my visit, I heard a loud sound. The guide who had accompanied us pointed quietly to the top canopy of a gigantic Terminalia arjuna (neer maruthu) tree. There it was, the arboreal creature from my dreams, the grizzled giant squirrel. It made a spectacular leap from the top of the canopy to an adjacent tree…. I was satisfied!
Meet the giant
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2018 de Sanctuary Asia.
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Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World
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Who's Who?
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Yala, Land Of The Leopard
Yala is not only Sri Lanka’s second-largest, but also the most-visited national park in the island nation.
The Wizards Of Oz!
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I was really excited and looking forward to the workshop on reptiles and amphibians at Nature’s Nest in Mollem, Goa, between June 24 and 26, 2017. It was my opportunity to meet renowned herpetologist Varad Giri.
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Earth Manners
Everyday habits matter! Let’s be kind to the planet, animals and ourselves!
World Scan
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