Every state in India has an officially designated state animal that represents its unique wildlife and ecology. For the state of Maharashtra, this honour belongs to a magnificent and colourful forest creature.
The Indian Giant Squirrel almost never comes down to the ground. It spends its entire life high up in the tree canopy, eating fruits, nuts, bark, and insects.
The state animal of Maharashtra is the Indian Giant Squirrel.
In the local Marathi language, it is affectionately called Shekru (ā¤ļāĨā¤ā¤°āĨ).
Unlike the small grey squirrels you see in city parks, the Indian Giant Squirrel is truly giant!
The Shekru is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) animal. It is completely dependent on the tall, dense canopy of the Western Ghats.
According to the IUCN Red List, it is currently classified as 'Least Concern'. However, its population is strictly monitored because its habitat is constantly threatened by deforestation.
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