SQUIRRELING ABOUT...

SQUIRRELING ABOUT... An orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel spotted while tree-hopping in the Rangamati's Kaptai National Park. The rodent is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. Like other squirrel species, it is primarily arboreal and herbivorous. One of its most distinguishable features is its vibrant colouration – the fur is predominantly a dark or reddish brown while its belly is a striking shade of orange. It's known to be an agile and solitary creature, preferring to remain on its own until breeding season. Despite its range across South Asia, its numbers have been dropping over the years due to rampant deforestation. The IUCN has categorised the species as "Near Threatened" in its Red List.

PHOTO: NOBEL CHAKMA