Namdapha Flying Squirrel Emerges After 42-Year Absence in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: After an absence of 42 years, the Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) has been rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh, marking a significant wildlife event. Initially documented in 1981 based on a solitary individual found in the Namdapha Tiger Reserve, the elusive mammal had eluded zoologists during subsequent expeditions, leading to speculation about its status.

Teams from Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation group based in Assam, conducted ten expeditions totaling 79 days in 2021. In April 2022, the team, led by Firoz Ahmed, finally spotted the Namdapha flying squirrel during a night survey near a river. Dr. Ahmed remarked, “After months of scrutiny of the photographic evidence we gathered, experts are pretty much sure that the animal is the Namdapha flying squirrel.”

The rediscovery is a cause for optimism in wildlife conservation, and the team is now planning a study to collect DNA samples for comparison with the genetic material of the individual collected in 1981. The distinct tuft of hair on the ears sets the Namdapha flying squirrel apart from the red giant flying squirrel in the same ecosystem.