Anand Doctors are working hard to save a rare injured flying squirrel

Vadodara, 5 December, 2011

A flying squirrel, seriously injured while attempting to jump to one tree from another is now under treatment of doctors of the Gujarat forest department in Vadodara.

On 2 December, a watchman saw a flying squirrel lying on the ground just next to the Kevadi Circuit house and quickly informed wild life officer Mr Ajay Jain about this.

Injured flying squirrel was then taken to a hospital in Chhota Udaipur where it was found that it had fracture. In was later shifted to Vadodara in a special vehicle.

The forests of Kevadi in Chhota Udaipur area of Vadodara district is blessed with variety of species of animals which are near extinction. This includes wild cats, panthers and flying squirrels among others. There are hardly 5 flying squirrels left in this jungle, according to local forest officer Shri Ajaykumar Jain. Earlier flying squirrel was also found in the jungles of the Dangs in Gujarat.

Flying squirrel is known as ‘Ratufa Indica’ in scientific language. Giving further information, the coordinator of western region wild life and Anand veterinary college’s Dr. R. G. Jani said, “The flying squirrel has a joint membrane. It spread its four legs while going from one tree to the other. The layer of its skin goes open, thanks to which, it can fly easily.”

Doctors has probed that this particular injured flying squirrel from Kevdi has got paralysis below stomach and it is in serious condition right now suffering from mental trauma too. Veterinary Dr Snehal Patel is looking after this case.