Chester Zoo Indian Giant Squirrel

Susan Humphreys said:
RSCC (Rare Species Conservation Centre) in Kent's website says coming soon: sri lankan giant squirrel along with arabian sand cat, fishing cat, margay, snow leopard. :)
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so it does, i checked on isis and only a couple of zoos in asia have them, they must be getting more popular
 
I rember seeing the Giant squirrel in one of the outdoor enclosures of the old Small Mammal House,also know of one person who used to have a pair as pets.

I could be that person, though I would not have called the "pets". Ratufa species were fairly frequently available pre early 1970s before imports were controlled by the Rabies Act. They were therefore fairly frequently kept in UK zoos because they are large, attractive species and easily managed, though breeding was not often achieved.
 
zooboy said:
I rember seeing the Giant squirrel in one of the outdoor enclosures of the old Small Mammal House,also know of one person who used to have a pair as pets.

I could be that person, though I would not have called the "pets". Ratufa species were fairly frequently available pre early 1970s before imports were controlled by the Rabies Act. They were therefore fairly frequently kept in UK zoos because they are large, attractive species and easily managed, though breeding was not often achieved.
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thanks for that, so your saying they are quite tame and gentle creatures?
 
thanks for that, so your saying they are quite tame and gentle creatures?

Yes they (I had a pair of Malabar squirrels Ratufa indica) will become quite tame, and behave much as other species of squirrel. They were quite tolerant of strangers and would climb on people happy to let them do so (their claws are sharp!), but would only allow me to pick them up.
 
zooboy said:
I rember seeing the Giant squirrel in one of the outdoor enclosures of the old Small Mammal House,also know of one person who used to have a pair as pets.

I could be that person, though I would not have called the "pets". Ratufa species were fairly frequently available pre early 1970s before imports were controlled by the Rabies Act. They were therefore fairly frequently kept in UK zoos because they are large, attractive species and easily managed, though breeding was not often achieved.
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Well if you are who i`m think you are do you have a fish tank in the bathroom?????
 
bathroom

Well if you are who i`m think you are do you have a fish tank in the bathroom?????

Got me! If you want more info on the squirrels email me direct.
 
Jana once mentioned that Prague is also going to get some Giant Grizzled Squirrels from Colombo Zoo. At the moment, Ostrava and Brno Zoo each keep a pair; the female from Plsen Zoo that then moved to Leipzig unfortunately died this summer.

I think I saw another Ratufa species (R. bicolor?) in an exhibit at Omaha Zoo close to the gorilla enclosures a few years ago. Anyone else also remembered that?
 
One of the Squirrel aviaries now have Lady Amherst Pheasants in it, though i didnt see any myself.
Any news Squirrel wise?
 
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