**1. Introduction**

The Indian or Malabar giant squirrel (*Ratufa indica* Erxleben, 1777) is endemic to Peninsular India (South India) [1]. Although it is widely distributed within its range, it occurs in severely fragmented populations [2]. It has faced local extinction and range restriction in several areas due to hunting and habitat loss and suitable habitat is limited in the areas where it occurs [3]. The Indian giant squirrel is currently listed in the "Least Concern" category of IUCN Red List, Appendix II of CITES and Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India [3, 4]. The Indian giant squirrel occurs in the elevation range of 180–2300 m and inhabits deciduous, mixed deciduous and moist evergreen forests [5]. It is a large-bodied (90–100 cm), diurnal and arboreal squirrel [6]. A solitary living species, it is seen in pairs only during the breeding season. It usually constructs more than one nest, or drey, within a single breeding season. The nests, which are made of leaves and twigs, are built-in tall, profusely branched trees, in the higher canopy [7, 8]. The species is omnivorous and feeds on fruits, flowers, nuts, bark, bird eggs and insects [8, 9]. The ecology of squirrels from Asian countries has been little studied and published information is scarce [10, 11]. In Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, there is an

only one literature was available on IGS population and nesting ecology [12]. Hence the present study was under took major objectives on (1) To find out the nesting tree preference, (2) To find out the nesting trees variables to support the IGS nesting, (3) Nesting behavior of IGS, and (4) To given an scientific recommendation for long term management and sustainable conservation of the species.

their nests along the natural trails in the dry thorn forest. Most of the nesting trees were located through intensive searches in the area by inspecting potential nesting trees and nests. The presence of IGS and their activity provide indirect evidence of use as nest trees. The IGS nesting trees were marked with GPS coordinates and classified with identification. The quantification of nesting habitat followed methods suggested by James and Shugart [14] and subsequently by Kannan [15], Mudappa and Kannan [16], and Girikaran et al. [17]. Vegetation and nest tree parameter was quantified in circular plots of 15 m (0.07 ha) with the nest tree as the center. All the trees (GBH > 25 cm) were enumerated and GBH (Girth at Brest Height) measured. Canopy cover was visually estimated. The elevation of the nesting tree distances to the nearest road, habitation was also noted. The nest tree parameters were measured such as tree height, basal area, diameter at breast height, number of primary branches and secondary, canopy cover, canopy height, canopy width and tree status such as (dead or alive) were noted. Such parameters were also quantified in similar-sized plots located 100 m in a random direction from the nest tree, where the nearest tree of GBH > 250 cm was chosen as the centre tree and the same nest tree parameters were also taken into the account for comparison of random (non-nest) plots with nest tree plots were made to determine parameters likely to affects choice of nesting habitat by Indian Giant Squirrel. The availability and density of potential nest tree species were assessed from 16 0.25 ha (50 m

*Nesting Behavior of Indian Giant Squirrel (*Ratufa indica *Erxleben, 1777)…*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92337*

Mean (M) and Standard Error (SE) was calculated to the nesting trees variables in the study area. Pearson's correlation coefficient matrix was performed to understand the variables significances among the nesting trees. Man Whitney U test was used to determine differences in 13 parameters between nest (n = 158) and non-nest (n = 250) plots. Principal Component Analysis was used to understand nest site selection. Statistical analyses were performed using *Graph Pad Prism 5 and SPSS*

A total of 192 nesting trees with 279 nests belonging to 19 trees species were identified as nesting trees preferences of IGS in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (**Table 1**). Of which *Bambusa arundinacea* was the dominant nesting grass species of the IGS (11%, n = 22) followed by *Terminalia arjuna* (10%, n = 20), *Spondias mangifera* (9%, n = 18), *Syzygium cumini* (7%, n = 14) and *Ficus benghalensis*, *Manilkara hexandra*, *Sapindus emarginata* were each 12 nesting trees (n = 6%), respectively. Among the nest, wise number of nests were recorded in the *Bambusa arundinacea* (20%, n = 56) followed by *Terminalia arjuna* (10%, n = 28), *Spondias mangifera* (9%, n = 26), *Syzygium cumini* (8%, n = 22) and *Ficus benghalensis* (6%, n = 16). There is a significant difference were observed on nesting trees preferences as well as the number of nests in a nesting tree (t = 2.539; P = 0.0184). The overall nest height of the IGS was 19.70 3.25 m and a maximum height of 34 m and a minimum height of 8 m and the nest direction shows that North East has held the number of nests (n = 137) followed by South East (n = 83), South West (n = 40) and North West (n = 19) (**Figure 2**). The nest position shows that Crown (n = 197) were contained the number of nest camper to lumb (n = 82). The nest position shows that top (n = 220) were contained the number of nests compare to the middle (n = 59). on the other hand, no nest was placed on the down position. A total of 14 variables

50 m) vegetation plots (2.5 ha).

17.0 statistical computer software.

**3.2 Statistical treatment**

**4. Result**

**39**
