A threat assessment of Three-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus?palmarum (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) from roadkills in Sigur Plateau, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

摘要

This study was undertaken to assess the threat from road kills for three-striped palm squirrels in the tropical forest of Sigur plateau, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, and Southern India from January 2014 to December 2016.? Road kills were recorded along the Udhagamandalam to Masinagudi state highway passing through Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (40 km). Four visits per month were carried out mostly on weekends (Saturday or Sunday).? A total of 497 three-striped palm squirrel kills were recorded, with an overall rate of 0.09/km of the roadway. Habitat wise 387 kills were observed in the thorn forest and 110 in dry deciduous forest habitats. Season wise 176 kills were recorded in winter, 156 in summer, 83 post-monsoon, and 82 during the monsoon.? The study distinguished the ongoing major threat on the three-striped palm squirrel in the present scenario.