Population status of grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura) in chinnar wildlife sanctuary, Southern India

The study of status and conservation of Grizzled Giant Squirrel in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary was studied. Line transect method was used to assess the population and focal animal sampling was used to collect data on feeding habits of Grizzled Giant Squirrel. One hundred and seven animals were sighted during the study period, mainly along the riverine patches during the period of study. In the riverine forest, fifty-four tree species were observed in Chinnar and Pambar forest of which Terminalia arjuna (45.1 per cent), and Pongamia pinnata (33.3 per cent) were the dominant species twenty-one species were found used by Grizzled Giant Squirrel for feeding. The total density of trees species of Grizzled Giant Squirrel in the riverine forest was 140.5/ha comprising of twenty-one species. Among these Terminalia arjuna (45.1 per cent) and Pongamia pinnata (33.3 per cent) comprised (78.4 per cent) of the total individuals from the sampled areas.