@article{3c7646f4d1cb470984432b98575fd15f,
title = "Diversity, distribution and status of gliding squirrels in protected and non-protected areas of the Eastern Himalayas in India",
abstract = "The tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia hold the highest gliding squirrel diversity but our knowledge of species diversity, ecology and major threats is limited. The present study was undertaken in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India between June 2011 and March 2015 to address the paucity of data available on gliding squirrels. Based on field and literature surveys, 14 species of gliding squirrels were detected in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. However, species such as Biswamoyopterus biswasi, which is reported as endemic to Namdapha National Park, were not detected. The high gliding squirrel diversity in this region could be related to a diversity of forest types and its location between the Himalayas and the Indomalayan region. Encounter rates with four different species revealed that Petaurista petaurista was most frequently detected in Namdapha National Park. Major threats include hunting for traditional medicine, cultural purposes or bushmeat, and habitat loss due to forest degradation caused by shifting cultivation. In addition, more intensive studies on population, ecology and conservation status are needed in order to design species and site specific conservation action plans in this region which represents the highest diversity of gliding squirrels globally.",
keywords = "Arunachal Pradesh, Diversity, Flying squirrels, Giant gliding squirrels, Petaurista sp, Traditional use",
author = "Krishna, {Murali C.} and Awadhesh Kumar and Tripathi, {Om Prakash} and Koprowski, {John L.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife and Biodiversity), Arunachal Pradesh, the District Forest O cers, Ranger o cers and forest guards for permission to conduct the surveys and for logistical support. NRDMS division of Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation, UK and Idea Wild, USA, are thanked for financial and equipment support. Director and Head of Department of Forestry, NERIST are thanked for administrative support. Dr. Aparajita Datta (NCF), Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury, Ambika Aiyadurai (NUS), Karthik Tegalapalli (NCF), Bidyut Sarania (TU), Umesh Srinivasan (NCBS), Dr. Ranjan Kumar Das (TC) and Dr. Kuladip Sharma, Parimal Ray, Anup Kumar Das, Dr. Amal Bawri, Lobsang Tashi Thungon from NERIST are thanked for sharing information and photos of gliding squirrels. Will Duckworth, Co-chair (Ex), IUCN Small Carnivore Specialist Group and Prof. Michael A. Steele, Wilkes University, are thanked for helping in identification of specimens and for suggestions and comments. Dr. Shyamkant Talmale, Dr. Gaurav Sharma and Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran from ZSI are thanked for their help in literature collection and for allowing us to study the gliding squirrel specimens. The authors are thankful to the editorial committee members and reviewers for their timely comments to improve the quality of the MS. Lastly, we are grateful to Bironjay Basumatary, Erebo Chakma, Tinku Chakma, Sambu Chakma, Jayanta Hazarika, Sonam and Aato Mayor for their assistance in the field. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017, Associazione Teriologica Italiana onlus. All rights reserved.",
year = "2016",
doi = "10.4404/hystrix-27.2-11688",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "27",
journal = "Hystrix",
issn = "0394-1914",
publisher = "Associazione Teriologica Italiana onlus",
number = "2",
}