**Author details**

and *Syzygium cumini* trees contained the tallest height as well as DBH and Trunk size and canopy cover. The high preference for *Bambusa arundinacea*,*Terminalia arjuna*, *Spondias mangifera* and *Syzygium cumini* which are found mostly along rivers and streams, could be owing to their dense canopy cover, and higher canopy height and

prejudiced assortment towards matured trees with greater canopy contiguity could make easy group to and from the nest in all instructions, the main benefit to escape from predators and to move to other parts of the home range for foraging and other activities as reported by Ramachandran [8] Datta and Goyal [20] and Parathan [11]. The canopy length and width, as well as branch start and branch end, was very good in *Terminalia arjuna*, *Spondias mangifera* and *Syzygium cumini*, as well as these trees, hold most numbers of nest compare the other nesting trees. These results coupled with the results of nest tree characters show that the squirrels prefer the largest trees available and highest locations on the trees within their home range to build their nests. The selection is however strongly influenced by tree species and their physical characteristics including canopy contiguity as reported elsewhere [20] for the species. Prakash et al. [21] stated that the canopy length width is an important factor for choosing a nesting tree it provides shelter as well as protection. This study found that a single tree holds a maximum five numbers of nest and minimum one nest and the average height of the nesting trees was 24.4 m. There were more than one or two nests in a single tree [18]. The tree species with multiple numbers of nests were *Terminalia arjuna*, *Spondias mangifera* and *Sizizyum cumini.* Kumara and Singh [22] sighted the Indian giant squirrel mostly at a height of 16 to 20 m in moist forests and 11 to 15 m in dry forests. We observed the Indian giant squirrel nesting on a large variety of the tree species (n = 37) in Karlapat wildlife sanctuary. Kanoje [23] also reported the use of a large variety of tree species (n = 30) for nesting in Sitanadi wildlife sanctuary, India. The nests were not built on the highest possible branch, as the squirrels sought cover above the nest. Such cover might help avoid direct heat from the sun and serve as hiding—place from birds of prey [10]. Among the 279 nests most of the nests were facing the northeast direction this is the influence of the sunlight effects plays a huge role in the nest position [24]. The maximum nests' width and length 70 and 35 cm, respectively. The nest condition, as well as length and width, play an important role in utilization as well as the care of young ones [7]. A nest was mostly located in the top (79%) and Middle (21%) of the canopy these results coupled with the results of nest tree characters show that the squirrels prefer the largest trees available and the highest locations on the trees within their home range to build their nests. The variety is however strongly predisposed by tree species and their physical characteristics as well as canopy contiguity as recorded in a different place [20] for the species.

contiguity that could proffer better guard and escape from predators. Such

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve faces severe pressure from the collection of non–timber forest products (NTFP) collection. Fruits of *Spondias mangifera* and *Tamarindus indica* are among the top NTFP collections and *Bambusa arundinacea* is highly utilized by local people for fences and home construction activities etc. which are also the preferred nesting trees of the Indian giant squirrel. The threats to this squirrel population in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve are immediate and visible. The results of this study support the need to implement the following conservation measures for the Indian giant squirrel: prevention of cutting *Bambusa arundinacea* of the preferred nesting species and regular monitoring of NTFPs; prevention of forest fires and mitigation of heavy grazing to allow regeneration of trees.

**6. Conclusion**

*Rodents*

**46**

Samson Arockianathan Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

\*Address all correspondence to: kingvulture1786@gmail.com

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
