Woolly flying squirrel, thought to be extinct, spotted in Gangotri National Park

Woolly flying squirrel, that was thought to be extinct some seventy years back, was spotted at Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi, informed Forest Research Institute, on Monday.

“The Woolly flying squirrel was considered extinct 70 years ago in the IUCN Red List. We spotted this squirrel in 13 of the 18 forest divisions of the state during a survey,” said the institute.

However, the scientists of Wildlife Institute of India situated in Dehradun have spoken of the presence this squirrel in the Bhagirath valley, and rare photographs of the have also been found.

“Woolly flying squirrel uses its furry claws as a parachute to fly,” Forest Research Institute told media.

 A rare squirrel which was thought to be extinct about 70 years ago was spotted in Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The Woolly flying squirrel uses the fur of its claw as a parachute.

“The Woolly flying squirrel was considered extinct 70 years ago in the IUCN Red List. We spotted this squirrel in 13 of the 18 forest divisions of the state during a survey,” Forest Research Institute said on Monday.

As per the state’s Forest Research Center’s survey, the squirrel was seen in 18 of 13 forest divisions, while Wooly squirrel was considered extinct 70 years ago in IUCN Red List.