Do you know how world's largest squirrel species found in India look like? Here's the pic

A picture of one of the world's largest squirrel species found in India was posted by an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer on the social media platform. Officer Parveen Kaswan shared the photo on August 13, which received an overwhelming response from Twitter users.  

In a post on X, he informed that the picture was taken in West Bengal's Buxa, and also questioned users to identify the species. It is to be noted that Parveen Kaswan is known for sharing interesting facts about wildlife.

"One of the world’s largest squirrel species found in #India. Can you identify? Buxa," he asked while sharing the picture of giant squirrel that can be seen perched on the tree's trunk. 

One of the world’s largest squirrel species found in #India. Can you identify. Buxa. pic.twitter.com/HZnE2NKLJd

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) August 13, 2023

Later, the IFS officer revealed that it was Malayan Giant Squirrel, also called as Black Giant Squirrel. "So as expected most of people thought it as Malabar Giant Squirrel. No. It is a Malayan Giant Squirrel. Also called a Black Giant Squirrel. In India we have three giant squirrels; Malayan giant squirrel. Malabar giant squirrel. Grizzled giant squirrel. My documentations," he wrote.

So as expected most of people thought it as Malabar Giant Squirrel.

No. It is a Malayan Giant Squirrel. Also called as Black Giant Squirrel.

In India we have three giant squirrels;

Malayan giant squirrel.
Malabar giant squirrel.
Grizzled giant squirrel.

My documentations. pic.twitter.com/esa1jiMwIm

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) August 13, 2023

Giant squirrel post receives amusing response from Twitteratis 

The post, which has garnered 1,800 likes so far, has been reposted over 90 times. Responding to the post, one of the Twitter users wrote, ''It's really beautiful, I had the opportunity to see a few during my trip to Tirupati a few years ago. I also spotted one in Mumbai about 10-15 years ago in Versova Andheri West. I believe this is unique to the western ghats region of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa & Konkan.'' Whereas the other user remarked that he saw such kind of giant squirrel in Odisha. "It loves to hop on teak trees! No picture since way too swift for me!''

It's Malayan Giant squirrel, found in North-eastern India. Malabar giant squirrel has a somewhat reddish-brown fur coloration, found along both Western and Eastern ghats.
A photo from last winter. pic.twitter.com/BiuLQVeisE

— Ansuman Satyaswarup (@AnsumanS17) August 13, 2023

I have captured this while going to tirumala by walk pic.twitter.com/K1lHuBXJlw

— Sai Kiran 🇮🇳 (@its_yours_kiran) August 13, 2023

Sir, in our Canada normal street squirrels are bigger than this pic.twitter.com/p3g0vcZt7q

— Sunil kumar kuls (@KulsSunil) August 13, 2023

Malabar squirrel pic.twitter.com/aE0JQSTxRk

— Mohan Velu (@Mohan_Velu) August 13, 2023