Woolly Flying Squirrel

Woolly  Flying squirrel:Here's the thing: flying squirrels don't actually propel themselves through the air. Instead, they glide, kept aloft by their patagium (the parachute-like skin that webs across their limbs). The delicate action of flight, especially without self-propulsion, is easiest for small rodents, which is why most flying squirrels are between 5 and 12 inches long. The Woolly Flying Squirrel, however, is an outlier among its peers. Standing two feet tall, its bushy tail stretches an additional two feet off its body. Nevertheless, the squirrel manages to "fly" gracefully through the air — though only recently did it launch itself back into our consciousness. After being presumed extinct for more than 70 years, two nature lovers from upstate New York rediscovered the Woolly Flying Squirrel in northern Pakistan in 1995. The mystique surrounding this species of squirrel extends beyond its decades-long absence and flying ability: in some Pakistani subcultures, its urine is purported to be an aphrodisiac and its cry is said to herald the death of a loved one.

Woolly flying squirrel, a shy human friendly animal, is threatened with extinction, as it is facing several dangers. The fast degradation of its habitat and vulnerability to human being are the main dangers it is facing.
Found in Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan) only and nowhere else, it is one of the least studied species in the world. There are three species of flying squirrels in Pakistan which are found in temperate zone in the northern mountains, including Murree Hills.
The giant Red Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), which is considered very common, lives on an altitude of 1350m to 3050m in Himalayan moist temperate forest, Muree Hills, Neelum Valley, the southern part of Kaghan valley, in the eastern part of Swat, Deodar forest of lower Chitral and parts of Dir.
The Small Kashmir Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes fimbriatus), considered vulnerable, is found in Himalayan moist temperate forest of deciduous and coniferous trees, spruce forest in Gilgit, Kohistan region, southern Chitral, Dir, Swat, Muree Hills, Hazara and Azad Kashmir.
The Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus Cinereus) is threatened with extinction. It is, undoubtedly, one of the rare mammals in the world and its present distribution is not reliably known.
Belour Advisory and Social Development Organization (BASDO), a local NGO and a member of IUCN-The World Conservation Union, active in Northern Areas since 1989 for conservation of nature and natural resources, is currently collecting scientific data on this endangered specie under a project, entitled "Biodiversity conservation in the sites of the unique habitat of Woolly Flying Squirrel in Northern Areas, Pakistan", financed by the UNDP/GEF/SGP.
According to the information gathered by BASDO, the animal has been seen by local communities at an altitude of 1600m to 3800m on the high mountains of Hindukush (Sai Nallah, Sekwar Nallah, Jutial Nallah, Barmas Nallah, Naupura Nallah, and Kargah Nallah in Gilgit; Singul, Gupis, Karumber valley in Ishkoman and Yasin valleys). In the Himalayan range it has been found in Chilas, Nanga Parbat forest in Diamir District and in the Karakoram Range at Naltar, Hunza, Shimshal and Nagar.
According to the BASDO field ecologist, Abdulla Bai, he has seen it at the altitude of 2600m in Jutial Nallah, south of Gilgit city.
The length of this grey-coloured specie from its nose to tail is about 3 feet, and its tail is about 1.6 feet long. Its weight is 1.5 to 2kg. A thick woolly type of soft fur is on the body and tail. The hairs are straight and silky.
The preferred food of this specie is the needles of Blue Pine, Chilghoza Pine, Deodar, Juniper and Spruce trees. It is nocturnal and glides from mountain to mountain, lives in a sheer mountain caves/holes. An elastic flying membrane is attached to its flanks.
Prof Z.B.Mirza, renowned biologist and author of several books on wildlife, Including, Mammals of West Pakistan, and Illustrated Handbook of Animal Biodiversity of Pakistan, first collected a specimen of this species in 1963 from Sai Valley some 30 kilometres from Gilgit in a mountain spur of Hindukush range, between Gilgit River and Indus River.
This specimen was lodged in the Punjab University's Zoological collections. It has also been described in Prof Mirza’s book.
There are three more specimens of this specie in the world.
The threats to this species include degradation of its habitat due to large scale felling of timbers as well as cutting of a large number of Juniper and other Conifer trees — which are also protected trees under the Forest Act, 1923 — as fuel wood.
It is vulnerable to predators and human being as local people are ignorant about the importance of this specie.

Indus River Dolphin

Indus River dolphins, sometimes called "bhulans," are one of two separate subspecies of South Asian river dolphins. The other recognizable geographic form or subspecies is the Ganges River dolphins (Platanista gangetica gangetica), also sometimes called "susus." The Indus River dolphin subspecies is one of the world's most endangered cetaceans.
Indus River dolphins are about 7-55 ft (2.2-2.4m) and weigh 150-220 lbs (70-90 kg). The Indus River subspecies is considered slightly smaller than the Ganges River subspecies (Jefferson et al. 2008). Females are slightly larger than males. They have an unusual robust or chunky body with a low triangular  fin located far (about two-thirds) down their back. They have a rounded melon, a very long narrow beak, extremely small eyes, and noticeable external ears. A longitudinal ridge can be found on the melon as well as from the dorsal fin to the tail. The eyes are poorly-developed (lack a crystalline eye lens) and located above the corners of the mouth (Shirihai and Jarrett 2006). These animals have a uniformly gray coloration pattern with a pale white or pinkish underside, giving a slight counter-shading effect. As this species ages and matures, the melon gradually becomes less rounded.
Indus River dolphins are usually found individually or in pairs, but have been occasionally seen in larger groups of up to 10 or more animals. Little information is available or known on the social structure of these groups.
Indus River dolphins' swimming behavior is often described as active, yet timid and reserved. This species is frequently seen swimming on its side, especially when in captivity. When at the water's surface, these animals can breach or just lift their heads and beaks out of the water.  May occur as a response to threats and other disturbances (Shirihai and Jarrett 2006).
Indus River dolphins' generally dive for 30-90 seconds, but are capable of holding their breath for up to several minutes. During dives they use their long beaks to probe the sediment along the bottom of the river to feed on prey such as clams, fish, and shrimp. They have 26-39 pairs of teeth in each jaw that are useful for grasping prey. The fang-like teeth in the lower jaw are comparatively longer and curved, and may interlock, overlap, and be visible outside the mouth. As these animals get older, the teeth become worn-down. Groups may coordinate their movements to cooperatively feed on prey.
Indus River dolphins become sexually mature at lengths of about 5.5 ft (1.7 m) or more, and begin breeding between 6-10 years of age. Females give birth year-round to a single calf that is about 2-3 ft (0.7-0.9 m) long. Mothers may also nurse calves for about 1 year before weaning. The estimated lifespan of this species is about 30 years.
Habitat
Indus River dolphins prefer the fresh and possibly brackish, shallow (usually less than 100 ft or 30 m), murky waters of the Indus River system in Pakistan. This species may occur in the main channels of rivers and in tributaries and lakes during the flood season.
Distribution
Indus River dolphins occur in the lower and middle areas of the Indus River in south-central Pakistan on the Indian subcontinent. Their current range is about 435-620 miles (700-1,000 km) along the Indus River and its tributaries. Their migrations have been linked to the monsoon. Historically, their range extended from the Indus River delta to the shallow, rocky foothills of the Himalayas (~3,400 km or 2,100 miles). The tributaries this species once occupied include: the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum Rivers (Reeves et al. 2002). Today, their distribution and range is extremely limited; it is currently just 20% of its historical extent (Shirihai and Jarrett 2006).
Population Trends
For management purposes, there are five sub-populations (three meta-populations) of Indus River dolphins inhabiting the animal's range on the river. Most of the dolphins in these sub-populations are located between the Chashma and Taunsa, Taunsa and Guddu (Punjab Province), and Guddu and Sukkur "Barrages" (Sind Province) (Reeves et al. 2002). The largest sub-population of this species can be found in south-central Pakistan between the Guddu and Sukkur Barrages, followed by those between the Taunsa and Guddu Barrages (Shirihai and Jarrett 2006; Reeves et al. 2002). Small numbers of individuals are scattered outside of these barrages. A survey along the river in 2001 found at least 1,000 animals throughout the species' range. There are insufficient data available on current population trends.
Threats
Indus River dolphins have been incidentally taken as bycatch in fisheries such as gillnets and longlines. These animals have also been targeted and harpooned by local fisherman for bait, medicine, and meat and oil for consumption. Indus river dolphins are affected by human development and other anthropogenic impacts such as hydroelectric dams and irrigation canals (e.g., Indus Basin Irrigation System) that can separate populations, and reduce and alter suitable habitat. Individuals have been entrapped in irrigation canals along the river and its tributaries. They are also susceptible to vessel strikes, and pollutants and other contaminants discharged into the water from agriculture, industrial, and urban use. These contaminants have led to fish kills, which may deplete Indus River dolphins prey. Another threat to this species is water consumption for various uses by humans in Pakistan 's arid climate.

Himalayan Tahr

Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is an animal that is classed as "Near Threatened" and is expected to become a threatened or vulnerable species in a few years. The Himalayan Tahr has a small head, large eyes, and pointed small ears. Their hooves are well adapted to climbing rocks, mountains, and hills, and their hooves have a special adaptation that has a rubber-like core that is flexible which lets them grab onto smooth rocks – and also wedge into sharp areas with the rim of their hooves. They weigh between 300 to 400lbs in weight (130-180kg) and are usually 4 – 5.4 feet in length (1.2 - 1.5m) and are 2 to 3 feet in height (60-90 cm). Their diets consist of shrubs, small plants, and small trees. They usually gestate for six months, and have one kid at a time. The  stick with their mother for up to two years, and can live to be 15 years of age.

Recent DNA evidence and genetic testing has shown that the three types of Tahr may not be related as closely as once figured, with the Himalayan Tahr being left in its own Genus, and the other two species moved to their own genera.

This species of Tahr has been inadvertently introduced to habitats that it is not originally from, and a feral population in the South Island in the country of New Zealand, has become a particular pest. Feral herds have been reported to cause damaged to natural habitats due to their nature of browsing and eating many of the local vegetation that would otherwise be used by the native population of animals. Other places and habitats that it has been introduced and allowed to populate range from California to New Mexico in the United States, Ontario in Canada, and also in South Africa.

The Binomial name and species of the Himalayan Tahr is Hemitragus jemlahicus, with it being the sole member of its Genus Hemitragus. Hemitragus belongs to the Subfamily of Caprinae within the Tribe Caprini. In the Caprini Tribe the wild goat, domestic goat, domestic sheep, and the other tahrs are members, along with other relatives. Within the Subfamily it is related to the Musk ox, and takin of the Ovibovini Tribe, and the serows, gorals, mountain goats, and chamois of the Naemorhedini Tribe. Caprinae belongs to the Family Bovidae which are called the bovids. Bovids are a large and varied family, which include many different species like cattle, sheep, goats, and many more. This belongs to the Infraorder Pecora which has species like giraffes, pronghorns, deer, and a large number more. Pecora in turn belongs to the Suborder Ruminantia, of which only one other Infraorder exists (that is not extinct or unknown) which has just 6 living species; Ruminantia is also the means that all members are ruminants and have complex digestive systems. Ruminant belongs to the Order Pterodactyl, of which all the even toed ungulates belong – even toed ungulates walk on two or four digits, like pigs, cows, and camels. Artiodactyla belongs to the Superorder Laurasiatheria, of which many orders, suborders, families, and species are members, from the carnivores to the fruit bats, and horses. Laurasiatheria belongs to the Infraclass Eutheria which is all placental mammals (you and I included) and that belongs to the Subclass Theria, which combines the Placentals with the Marsupials and 99.6% of all living mammals (kangaroos, koalas and many more), however this does not include the Monotremes.
 Interesting Fact about the Himalayan Tahr

The Himalayan Tahr has become such a pest in New Zealand that it is legal and encouraged to hunt them.

Picture of the Himalayan Tahr by Michail Jungierek, licensed under GFDL.

The Himalayan tahr is listed as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Black-Necked Crane

The black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) is a medium-sized crane in Asia that breeds on the  winters mainly in remote parts of India and Bhutan. It is 139 cm (55 in) long with a 235 cm (7.8 ft) wingspan, and it weighs 5.5 kg (12 lbs). It is whitish-gray, with a black head, red crown patch, black upper neck and legs, and white patch to the rear of the eye. It has black primaries and secondaries. Both sexes are similar. Some populations are known to make seasonal movements. It is reserved in Buddhist traditions and culturally protected across much of its range. A festival in Bhutan celebrates the bird while the India state of  Kashmir considers it as the state bird.


The black-necked crane summers mainly in the high altitude Tibetan Plateau. The breeding areas are alpine meadows, lakeside and riverine marshes and river valleys. They also make use of barley and wheat fields in these areas. Wintering areas tend to be in sheltered valleys or lower altitudes. The largest populations are in China with smaller numbers extending into Vietnam, Bhutan and India. Small populations have been noted in northern Sikkim. A small group of 20 to 40 was once known to regularly visit the Subansiri area in the Apa Tani valley until 1975 and vagrants have been recorded in Nepal.
In 1996 there were about 4,000 of the birds, most of whom spent their winters in Tibet in the valleys of the Nyanga, Lhasa and Penbago rivers and the middle reaches of the Yarlang Tasango. The  Pengbo valley is an important winter resting place, with a 96 square kilometers (37 sq mi) Linzhou Black-necked Crane Preservation Zone established in 1993. Black-necked cranes also winter in small numbers in two valleys of wester Arunachal prodesh in India.

Behavior Of Black-Necked:
 Black-necked cranes forage on the ground in small groups, often with one bird acting as a sentinel. In winter, the groups arrive and leave the feeding grounds together, but may split into family groups, each group keeping their own small feeding territories in a big marshes or fields. They spend nearly 75% of the day foraging with peak feeding in the early morning and late afternoon. While foraging, they keep walking and they also walk long distances between the feeding spots. In this manner, they cover several kilometers a day while foraging. They feed on the tubers of sedge, plant roots, earthworms, insects and other invertebrates, frogs and other small vertebrates. They may also feed on fallen grains of barley, oats and buckwheat and will sometimes dig up and feed on potatoes, carrots and turnips. Their loud trumpeting calls are similar to those of other cranes.
These birds are very wary, but in some areas they are accustomed to the local people who do not disturb them. These cranes appear to be able to distinguish people in traditional dress and are especially wary of others.
Like many other crane species, they are believed to form long-lasting pair bonds and dancing displays are made during the breeding season. The breeding birds are territorial and will chase away any intruders of the same species immediately, though they are generally tolerant of other species. The nest site is usually a pre-existing mud island inside a large shallow wetland. The nest varies from a scantily lined scratch in the ground to a structure made of grass, rushes and weeds with a depression in the center, sometimes the eggs laid directly on the grass without any structure. Eggs are laid mainly in May and June. One or two eggs. The birds are relatively more wary when the young ones are small. Till the time when the young ones are able to fly, the family kept moving around the nesting location, but later the family started traveling far and wide in the course of a day. Though the young ones are able to forage independently, usually they accompany the parents during foraging. Short, subdued nasal "kurrr" calls are used by the family to keep in contact and also by adults to indicate availability of food to juveniles. The adults were found to feed the young ones mainly with fish in Ladakh, adults fishing like herons. They are endangered because of the hunters.

The rare and endangered black-necked crane occupies a special place in Bhutanese hearts and folklore. Its arrival every autumn from Tibet inspires songs and dances; it usually heralds the end of the harvesting season and also the time when families start migrating to warmer climates. Like other cranes, these have an elaborate mating ritual, a dance in which pairs bow, leap into the air and toss vegetation about while uttering loud bugling calls. It can be difficult to distinguish the sexes because the colouration is so similar, but the females are slightly smaller. Their migration is on of the most difficult in the world. To reach their winter grounds in Bhutan the birds must traverse the highest Himalayan peaks.  - See more at: http://bhutancanada.org/bhutan-fun-facts-weird-and-wonderful-animals-of-bhutan/#sthash.mkPzbf2C.dpuf

Butani Takin

The Bhutan Takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei) is a vulnerable subspecies of Takin native to Bhutan. North Eastern india, Western part of China, and Tibet. The main threats to the Bhutan Takin are hunting and habit loss.
In Bhutan, Takin are found in forests at altitudes of 1,000 to 4,500 metres (3,300 to 15,000 ft), where they eat Grass. Takin are dimual, active in the day, resting in the heat on particularly sunny days. Takin gather in small  in winter and herds of up to a hundred individuals in the summer; in winter, they move to lower elevations and split into smaller herds of 10-50 individuals, mostly in the Gasa. As is often seen in biston, old males are often solitary.
A study of the Bhutan Takin's seasonal movement and habitat use has been conducted bystaff which is thought to be the stronghold of the species in Bhutan. An earlier study of its diet on its summer range showed that the takin is a generalist browser foraging on numerous shrubs and forbs.
In China, the species is known to inhabit from south  on the southern-facing side of the eastern Himalayas, to the westerly bend of the river. In India it occurs in Aarika.
 Several Takin are kept captive in the Mothin Takin in Thimpu, where they can be hand-fed by tourists and are obese as a result. His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan ordered the captive Takin released in the 1980s but after they wandered the streets of Thimphu for several weeks, they were recaptured and placed back into captivity.

Bhutan’s national animal, this strange looking creature has a mythical story. It is believed that in the 15^th century, the “Divine Madman,” Saint Drukpa Kuenley, created the takin while at a congregation of his devotees. After being mocked about his supposed magical powers, the saint decided to show off his skills, and asked for a whole goat and cow to eat for lunch. After eating the entirety of both animals, leaving only the bones, he placed the head of the goat onto the body of the cow, snapped his fingers, and from the pile of bones rose a strange looking animal – the takin. Don’t believe the myth? Taxonomists today still have trouble categorizing the animal – in fact they’re so stumped they’ve had to give it a class of its own, Bu-dorcas taxicolor. Pretty neat, huh?     - See more at: http://bhutancanada.org/bhutan-fun-facts-weird-and-wonderful-animals-of-bhutan/#sthash.mkPzbf2C.dpuf

Bhutan’s national animal, this strange looking creature has a mythical story. It is believed that in the 15^th century, the “Divine Madman,” Saint Drukpa Kuenley, created the takin while at a congregation of his devotees. After being mocked about his supposed magical powers, the saint decided to show off his skills, and asked for a whole goat and cow to eat for lunch. After eating the entirety of both animals, leaving only the bones, he placed the head of the goat onto the body of the cow, snapped his fingers, and from the pile of bones rose a strange looking animal – the takin. Don’t believe the myth? Taxonomists today still have trouble categorizing the animal – in fact they’re so stumped they’ve had to give it a class of its own, Bu-dorcas taxicolor. Pretty neat, huh?     - See more at: http://bhutancanada.org/bhutan-fun-facts-weird-and-wonderful-animals-of-bhutan/#sthash.mkPzbf2C.dpuf

Bhutan’s national animal, this strange looking creature has a mythical story. It is believed that in the 15^th century, the “Divine Madman,” Saint Drukpa Kuenley, created the takin while at a congregation of his devotees. After being mocked about his supposed magical powers, the saint decided to show off his skills, and asked for a whole goat and cow to eat for lunch. After eating the entirety of both animals, leaving only the bones, he placed the head of the goat onto the body of the cow, snapped his fingers, and from the pile of bones rose a strange looking animal – the takin. Don’t believe the myth? Taxonomists today still have trouble categorizing the animal – in fact they’re so stumped they’ve had to give it a class of its own, Bu-dorcas taxicolor. Pretty neat, huh?     - See more at: http://bhutancanada.org/bhutan-fun-facts-weird-and-wonderful-animals-of-bhutan/#sthash.mkPzbf2C.dpuf

Red panda

The origin of the name "Panda" is the Nepalese word "Nigalya ponya", which has the meaning of "eater of bamboo". And this explains the similarity of the names of the Red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and the Giant panda: Both species are specialized on eating bamboo but are not as closely related as their names might indicate. The Red panda's dependency on bamboo isn't as distinct as in the Giant panda, which feeds exclusively on bamboo. Red pandas also consume roots, acorns, berries, lichens and sometimes eggs and young birds. The small bears are too slow to carry off faster animals. Anyway is their way of life marked by a certain kind of portliness. They spend much time resting on high branches, curled up or stretched, depending on outside temperature. Thus Red pandas are saving energy since bamboo is very low on energy content. Up in the trees they are quite safe from their predators like the Snow leopard; down on the ground Red pandas wouldn't have any chance against them.

Sambar Sambar

Sambar deer are elk-like in conformation, but sport a longer tail and a shaggy dark mane that stands up when the deer is threatening intruders. They sport a dull grey-brown coat with pale bellies and underneath the tail. Bucks grow a spectacular three-pronged rack that grows about 43 inches (110 cm) long. Adult deer, both does and buck, have a strange hairless red spot mid-way down their throats. Underneath the skin of this spot is a gland that secretes musk.When really frightened, both adults and fawns can emit high-pitched shrieks. Bucks bellow during the rut but does are quiet. Sambar stags often rub their antlers against tree trunks to mark their territory and may even rear up on their hind legs to do so.

 Sambar deer prefer to live near water. They are not only excellent swimmers, but water can help relieve them of parasites and serve as defense against non-human predators. Smaller predators such as dholes cannot maneuver in water. Sambar deer have also been found 11,500 feet (3500 meters) up the Himalayan Mountains and snitching illicit snacks out of cultivated fields. Bucks live alone, except during the rut, while females and fawns live in small herds from 2 to 16 individuals.

Does have a gestation lasting seven or eight months. Normally, a single calf is born but twins occur in about 2% of sambar does. Fawns are born with light spots on a chestnut-brown coat, but these spots fade in weeks. They can walk within hours of birth and begin eating solid food at a mere 5 days old. Over the next two months, they transition from milk to an adult diet of twigs, tree bark, leaves, water plants, shrubs, herbs and fruits. Buck calves begin growing antlers when they are one year old. Unlike many other species of deer, calves stay with their mothers for up to 24 months. If lucky, a sambar deer can live nearly 20 years in the wild. The oldest sambar in captivity lived be 38. Sambar deer thrive in captivity.