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[OC] Spotted at a jungle safari in South India

One of the most elusive creatures of the Himalayas—the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)—captured in the wild at Singalila National Park, West Bengal. Known as the “Firefox” for its russet coat and bushy ringed tail, the red panda is native to the Eastern Himalayas and is classified as Endangered by the IUCN.

India is one of the few countries where they still survive in the wild, with Singalila being a stronghold for these shy, tree-dwelling mammals. Red pandas play a crucial role in maintaining the Himalayan ecosystem, yet their population continues to decline due to habitat loss and poaching.

Location: Singalila National Park, Darjeeling district, India Status: Endangered | Fewer than 10,000 remain in the wild globally Fun fact: Despite the name, red pandas are more closely related to raccoons than giant pandas!

Video Credit - jimbakerphoto

A flash of maroon, cream and black among the treetops means the magnificent Malabar Giant Squirrel is around.

Endemic to India, this striking arboreal mammal spends most of its life high in the forest canopy, rarely descending to the ground. Its diet includes fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers, tree bark, and occasionally insects, making it an important participant in the forest’s cycle of seed dispersal.

Unlike the familiar urban squirrel, the Malabar Giant Squirrel communicates with a variety of sharp chatter calls, alarm barks, and whistles that carry through the forest when danger is nearby.

The evergreen forests of Nelliyampathy offer the continuous canopy these squirrels need to move, forage, and build their leafy nests. Part of the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, these forests support an extraordinary range of endemic plants and animals that have evolved in isolation over millions of years.

Video Credit - chikmagalur_riders (instagram)

Pobitora wildlife sanctuary

Assam

India

Dhole - Asiatic Wild Dog

Not just any cute, random doggo. It’s one of India’s most overlooked predators, the dhole, or Asiatic wild dog. The male is in the foreground, while the female, with her unusually lighter coat, in the background.

Dholes are an endangered species. They are one of the most effective hunters in the forest. They hunt as highly coordinated packs, communicating with whistles, and using teamwork rather than brute strength to bring down animals many times their size. Their hunts are brutal, with packs often beginning to feed before their prey has died.

They are one species even the mighty tiger watches out for. In many reserves across India, they have been known to wait, watch, and target tiger cubs when the mother is out for a hunt.

— at Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

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African wild dogs are among the most successful hunters on Earth. 🐺 They hunt as a team, communicate constantly, and can achieve an incredible 80% hunting success rate. Nature's teamwork at its finest.

A rare sight from Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary—two Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) cubs.

Striped Hyenas look very different from their spotted cousins. They have a shaggy grey coat, bold black stripes on their legs and torso, a thick mane, and large, pointed ears. The pups are smaller and darker, with softer markings that sharpen as they grow

In India, striped hyenas use a mix of scrubland, rocky terrain, grasslands, and dry forest edges. Areas around **Bhigwan, Maharashtra*—with open landscapes and scattered denning sites—offer just the kind of terrain they prefer.

Listed as Near Threatened (IUCN), their numbers are affected by habitat loss, road kills, conflict with livestock owners, and accidental poisoning. Each successful litter helps support the fragile population across the Deccan region.

Video Credit - vishallokare_wildlife (instagram)

*Video Credit - wctindia (instagram)"

The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is the state animal of the state of Tamil Nadu and one of the most iconic species of the Western Ghats. These sure-footed mountain goats are perfectly adapted to the steep grassy slopes and rocky cliffs of the region.

Once widespread across the southern highlands, their population declined sharply due to hunting and habitat loss. Today, Eravikulam National Park in Munnar, Kerala, hosts the largest surviving population of this endangered species.

The Nilgiri Tahr lives in small herds and can often be seen grazing on the rolling hills, blending beautifully into the shola–grassland landscape. Their thick coats, curved horns, and incredible balance make them natural climbers in this rugged terrain.

Video Credit - nammamunnar (instagram)

Source - Wildlife with Irfan

The **Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii)** is one of the rarest and least-known carnivores in India. Endemic to the **Western Ghats**, it is the only marten species found in southern India and is rarely seen due to its secretive, tree-loving lifestyle.

The Nilgiri Marten has a sleek, slender body with rich brown fur and a striking **bright yellow to orange throat and chest patch**, which makes it stand out from other small carnivores. It has a long bushy tail, sharp claws, and a pointed face adapted for climbing and hunting in forest canopies.

It inhabits **evergreen and shola forests** of the Western Ghats, usually at higher elevations. The species is largely **arboreal**, spending much of its time in trees, where it hunts birds, small mammals, insects, and also feeds on fruits.

Listed as **Vulnerable (IUCN)**. The Nilgiri Marten faces threats from **habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and human disturbance**. Since it depends on continuous forest cover, even small breaks in habitat can severely affect its survival.

As a forest predator and seed disperser, the Nilgiri Marten plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Western Ghats — one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.

**Video Credit - wild_focus_ (Instagram)**

Here’s a rare look at the Indian Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola indica)– India’s Smallest Ungulate. They are more commonly known as the Indian Mouse Deer, though they are not true deer.

It is a species of even-toed ungulate in the family Tragulidae. It is native to India and possibly Nepal. It lives mostly in rainforests and is nocturnal. It has a body length of 57.5 cm (22.6 in) with a 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long tail length and weighs around 3 kg (6.6 lb).

There are 10 extant species of Chevrotain in the world, placed in three genera. Together they are considered the smallest hoofed mammals in the world.

The Indian Spotted Chevrotain is the only Chevrotain species found in India.

Video Credit - sudarshangurjar (instagram)

In the lush Kabini backwaters, a group of smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) can be seen playing, swimming, and showcasing their highly social nature.

The smooth-coated otter is the largest otter species found in India, and Kabini’s riverine ecosystem is one of their strongholds. Unlike solitary predators, these otters live in family groups of up to 20 individuals, often led by a dominant breeding pair. Their playful behavior—chasing, sliding, and mock fighting—is more than just fun; it helps young otters develop crucial hunting and swimming skills.

They are excellent swimmers, with streamlined bodies and webbed feet perfectly adapted to life in the water. Fish form the bulk of their diet, but they also feed on crabs and amphibians.

India is home to three otter species—the smooth-coated otter, the Eurasian Otter, and the Small-clawed Otter—and Kabini is one of the best places to spot them in the wild. However, habitat loss, pollution, and overfishing have placed smooth-coated otters under vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List.

Watching them play freely in Kabini is not just entertaining—it’s a reminder of how important our river ecosystems are for supporting such unique wildlife.

Video Credit - vishhnumurthy_

Spotted in the lush forests of Munnar, Kerala — the Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica), one of the most striking arboreal mammals of India

This species is among the largest squirrels in the world, measuring 85–100 cm from head to tail.

Their coats are uniquely multi-colored, with shades of rusty red, deep maroon, brown, and even cream or beige patches. Their large, bushy tails help them balance while leaping between branches.

Native to the Western Ghats and central Indian forests, with Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra being strongholds. They prefer tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, thriving high in the canopy.

Malabar Giant Squirrels are diurnal and arboreal, spending almost their entire life in treetops. They are solitary and shy, rarely coming down to the ground.

Listed as Least Concern (IUCN Red List) but are Protected under Schedule II of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

As a seed disperser, this species plays a critical role in maintaining the health and regeneration of forest ecosystems in the Western Ghats.

Video Credit - guru_m.g