The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

89) Dremomys lokriah (Hodgson, 1836)
Common Names
Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel (English); Himali
Banlokharke (Nepali)
Synonyms
Sciurus lokriah (Hodgson, 1836); Sciurus
subflaviventris (Gray, 1843); Dremomys lokriah
subflaviventris (Gray, 1843); Sciurus locriah (Blanford,
1891); Dremomys lokriah bhotia (Wroughton, 1916);
Dremnomys macmillani (Thomas, 1916); Dremomys
lokriah garonum (Thomas, 1922)
Species Description
Medium sized forest squirrel with bright orange
throat, chest and belly, has chunky body, short
limbs, small ears and a pointed snout.
Species Ecology
The Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel occurs in
forests including subtropical and oak-rhododendron
forests and oak, bamboo, fir and pine forest patches.
The main diet consists of fruits, berries and grubs
found under bark.
This species produces litters of two to five young.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Least Concern
Rationale for assessment: This species is considered
Least Concern in view of its wide distribution,
presence within protected areas and presumed
large population.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
The species is considered common and abundant
with a stable population.
National Distribution
The species occurs in Annapurna Conservation Area,
Makalu Barun National Park, Langtang National
Park, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Sagarmatha
National Park, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and
Rara National Park and from the districts of Ilam,
Ramechhap and Solukhumbu.
Distribution outside Nepal
Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar.
Main Threats
• Habitat degradation.
• Hunthing for subsistence.
References
Suwal and Verheugt 1995, Molur et al. 2005, Baral and Shah 2008, Smith and Xie 2008,
Nepal Red List Field Technicians Consultative Workshop 2010.
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