Sloth Bear & Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Cauvery WLS, Aug 2021

A brief visit to the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in early August was productive for 3 different, daytime (late evening and morning) sightings of Sloth Bear, all with cubs. It appeared that these animals were drawn to the riverine forest at this time of the year, to feed on the seasonal abundance of fruiting Jamun (Syzygium cumini). Another highlight mammal from the visit was the locally common Grizzled Giant Squirrel, a species with a patchy distribution in the hills of south India and Sri Lanka. There were also some good birds like Lesser Fish Eagle and White-naped Woodpecker and an Indian Rock Python among the other highlights from the visit. Please follow the link for a (more) detailed report.

List of Mammals Seen

Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)
Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura)
Three-striped Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)
Wild Pig (Sus scrofa)
Chital (Axis axis)
Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata)
Tufted Grey Langur (Semnopithecus priam)

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