namdapha flying squirrel
The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is only known with certainty from a single individual collected in Namdapha National Park, the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, at altitudes of between 100 and 350 meters (or between 328 and 1,150 feet) above sea level. Although researchers have surveyed the surrounding area for the flying squirrel, there have not been any verified sightings of the species. Scientists believe this lost species occurs in dry deciduous montane forests along streams, and may be restricted to the area of a single valley within the Namdapha National Park. Aaranyak has started nighttime spotlighting—shining lights into the treetops to look for the reflection of animals’ eyes—and will continue the search in the first few months of 2022. Stay tuned!