Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel

Orange-bellied Himalayan squirrels are found in Nepal's subtropical, semi-evergreen, and oak-rhododendron forests and patches of oak, bamboo, fir, and pine forests. It is a medium-sized squirrel found at altitudes ranging from 1000 meters to 3000 meters. Annapurna Conservation Area, Makalu Barun National Park, Langtang National Park, Shivapuri Nagarjuna National Park, Everest National Park, Kanchenjunga National Park, and Rara National Park, along with their buffer zones and community forests in hilly areas, are also their habitats outside the protected area. Its scientific name is Dremomys lokriah, while in Nepali it is called Himali Ban Lokharke.

This species was first described in Nepal in 1836 by Hodgson as Sciurus lokriah. He also visited and collected samples from the southern part of Mt. Everest. He also collected the first specimens of six other squirrels and one marmot from Nepal. After Hodgson collected all these squirrel samples in Nepal, Hodgson's Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista magnificus) was honored with a squirrel species named after Hodgson.

 Orange bellied The Himalayan squirrel was a species during the research of squirrel species in Nepal. Among the 279 species of squirrels found in the world (IUCN 2015), researchers have mentioned that only 12 species have been found in Nepal. Nine species found in Nepal are globally assessed as having the least concern (IUCN 2015).

Although the subspecies of the orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel have undergone several modifications, there are currently a total of eight known valid subspecies throughout its distribution range. Among them, six subspecies are found in India. However, all validations of these subspecies were through morpho-taxonomy and multivariate analysis. The researchers say that molecular studies are yet to be done to confirm these subspecies. The orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel is found in the mountains of China's Tibet, northern Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and eastern India. The smallest squirrel in the world is the African pygmy, which is only 5 inches long from nose to tail.

When the Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF) researched squirrels in Nepal, 12 species were found. They are: Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel (Dremomys lokriah), Black Giat Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor), Particolored Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger), Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel (Belomys pearsonii), Grey-headed Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista elegans), Hodgson's Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista magnificus), Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista nobilis), Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), Hoary-bellied Squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus), Five-striped Palm Squirrel (Funambulus pennantii), Himalayan Striped Squirrel (Tamiops macclellandii), and the Himalayan Marmot (Marmota himalayana).

Features

The orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel has a bright orange belly. The dorsal coat is grey at the base. The body is chunky, with short limbs, small ears, and a pointed snout. The ventral side is orange in color. 

Because of its feathered tail, it looks very beautiful when it sits, walks, jumps, and has a 

round head with large eyes and a thin mustache. Its head-to-body length is 20 cm, and its tail length is 22 cm. Its weight ranges from 172 to 180 grams. It has an average lifespan of 85.2 months.

Habitat and breeding

This species is diurnal and arboreal in habit and forages on the forest floor. They make nests in hollows in various types of trees. Its habitat is tropical evergreen or semi-evergreen forest, consisting of native and planted tree species in old natural forest areas. Major tree species are Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Artocarpus, Tectona grandis, Dillenia pentagyna, etc.

They come to the ground to collect wild fruits and eat them by picking them from trees. The main diet consists of fruits, berries, and nuts. It can gracefully jump from tree to tree and from tree branch to tree branch with ease. These small mammals must always be wary of predators because they are delicious for them. They live in trees or underground. 

Their breeding time is from May to August; during this time, the female usually gives birth to 2 to 5 babies. Babies are blind and are completely dependent on their mother for two or three months.

When I photographed the orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel near the buffer zone area of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park located in the Kathmandu Valley, they were making a nest for breeding in bamboo trees. Their nest was in a very secret place, and it was very difficult to see it.

Threats

In Nepal, this species is also hunted for its meat and skin. The orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel species is under threat due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation in Nepal, day by day.

According to Dr. Sagar Dahal of Florida International University, USA, the orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel inhabits generally above 2000 metres in the Rodhodendron forests of the mid-hills in eastern and central Nepal and has not been found in the lowland areas. Squirrels are known to play an important role in seed dispersal and act as a major prey base for small cats and other carnivores. Only known from some restricted areas, these animals need dedicated research activities.

(The author is a wildlife photographer. The photos used in this article are by the author.)