Ecological and Behavioural Aspects of Five Striped Palm Squirrel, Funambulus pennantii Wroughton in Natural Habitat in Agricultural Landscape

Present study on ecology and behaviour of five striped palm squirrel, Funambulus pennantii was conducted in agricultural landscape in district Ludhiana and Sangrur (Punjab, India) from October, 2020 to September, 2021. Seasonal activity, time spent on different kinds of activities, vegetation preferred, interaction with other animals, nest analysis, and home range of five striped palm squirrel were studied. There was bimodal activity in summer season and unimodal activity in winter season. Squirrels spent most of their time in feeding, exploring and resting. They mostly fed on leaves, bark and fruits of trees. Squirrels were found to interact with different species of birds. Mostly human presence had no effect on their activity. The nest height ranged from 3.6 -10.5 m. Home range of male and female squirrels varied from 12.0-15.2 m and 10.1-16.0 m, respectively. The squirrels changed their day time activity with season, thermal conditions and day length. The mid-day resting period was observed to avoid excessive heat in all the seasons except winters. The present study on ecology and behaviour of squirrels may be helpful in suggesting different management methods against them.