Rare giant squirrel spotted in Balodabazar forest

Raipur: When on one side wild animals are suffering heat stroke, Chhattisgarh’s forests continue to throw up encouraging signs of a recovering and thriving ecosystem on the other. A rare sighting of the Indian giant squirrel during a birding trail in the Devpur forest in Balodabazar forest division has sparked hope for the ecosystem here.Known for its striking mix of deep red, black, brown and cream fur, the Indian giant squirrel is among the largest tree squirrels in the country, measuring up to nearly three feet including its tail. The species spends almost its entire life on treetops and is capable of making leaps of nearly 20 feet between branches. It is protected under Schedule II of the wildlife protection Act,, making hunting or trade of the species a punishable offence.The elusive arboreal mammal, also known as the Giant Malabar squirrel (Ratufa indica), was spotted during the ‘Devpur summer camp 2026’ organised by the Balodabazar forest division from May 16 to 22. Officials said the squirrel was sighted on the very first day of the camp during a jungle trail attended by children, youth and nature lovers.The sighting was identified and documented by a nature enthusiast Hemant Verma, who was part of the trail team. Forest officials described the development as a strong indicator of a healthy and secure forest ecosystem in and around the Barnawapara region.DFO Dhammashil Ganveer said the presence of the rare squirrel highlights the rich biodiversity of the Barnawapara landscape and reflects improving habitat conditions in the forest belt.“Barnawapara sanctuary and its surrounding forests are extremely rich in biodiversity. The sighting of this giant squirrel in Devpur forests shows that our forest ecosystem is healthy and secure,” the DFO said.