Guwahati, Dec 22: Good news for environmental lovers because, after going missing for 42 years, a nocturnal flying squirrel has resurfaced in Arunachal Pradesh.
This arboreal and nocturnal species, known only from a single specimen collected in 1981, has been a source of fascination and frustration for conservationists.
Ten of these expeditions were by teams from Aaranyak, an Assam-based biodiversity conservation group, for a total of 79 days in 2021. A team from the group finally sighted the Namdapha flying squirrel in April 2022.
The team led by Firoz Ahmed included Sourav Gupta, a field researcher, and Sourav Mardi, a volunteer who visited various potential sites close to a river at night. Tajum Yomcha, a research officer with the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, aided in the search for the elusive species.
While photographic evidence suggests the sighting could be a Namdapha flying squirrel, definitive confirmation requires DNA analysis. Dr. Ahmed and his team are currently designing a study to collect DNA samples from the field and compare them with the 1981 specimen stored at the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata.
Flying squirrels are majestic animals,” says Dr. Ahmed, “and both the Namdapha and Red giant flying squirrels make Namdapha National Park even more special.”
He further described the potential of this rediscovery as a flagship for conservation efforts in the park and a beacon of hope for other lost species.
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