Where Silence Soars: Woolly Flying Squirrel Spotted in Himachal’s Miyar Valley

🧭 Thematic Focus

Category: Wildlife Conservation | Biodiversity | Himalayan Ecology
GS Paper: GS Paper III – Environment | Conservation | Endangered Species
Tagline: Some species vanish without a sound—others glide back into the story.

🌌 Intro

In late 2024, a camera trap in Miyar Valley, Himachal Pradesh, captured an elusive figure under Himalayan moonlight.
It was the Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus)—thought extinct for decades, now whispering its existence once more.
This marks a milestone for Indian conservation, particularly in the fragile ecosystems of Lahaul & Spiti.

🔍 Key Highlights

🐾 About the Species

• Scientific Name: Eupetaurus cinereus
• Endemic to northwestern Himalayas
• Only species in its genus
• Nocturnal, elusive, and once presumed extinct
• Rediscovered in 1994, first photographed in India 2024

🌲 Habitat & Distribution

• Fragmented dry conifer woodland zones
• Found in:
  • Miyar Valley (India)
  • Sai Valley, Gorabad, Balti Gali (Pakistan)
• Lives in a narrow elevational band, highly climate-sensitive

✨ Physical Features

• Elastic membranes from fore to hind legs = gliding ability
• Dense, silky fur:
  • Blue-gray back, pale gray underside
  • Cream-colored throat and ears
  • Black fur on feet for rugged terrain
• Ideal camouflage for night gliding in rocky forests

🛑 Conservation Status

• Listed as ‘Endangered’ on IUCN Red List
• Threatened by:
  • Habitat loss, climate change, human activity
• Needs urgent habitat protection and population monitoring

🔬 Research & Rediscovery

• Photographed via camera traps used in Snow Leopard Census
• Survey: Oct–Dec 2024, under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) initiative
• Reveals the interconnected web of mountain ecology

🧠 Concept Explainer: Why This Matters

In an era of loss, a rediscovery like this reminds us that hope glides quietly through the cracks of silence.
Protecting rare species like the Woolly Flying Squirrel is not just about a checklist—it’s about preserving the unseen balance of mountain life.

🗺️ GS Paper Mapping

• GS Paper III – Environment, Biodiversity Conservation, Habitat Studies
• GS Paper I – Indian Geography | Himalayan Ecology
• Essay Themes – “In the Shadow of Extinction,” “Mountains That Remember”

💭 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk

“It flew not on wings,
but on wonder.
And in its gliding return,
the mountain exhaled a memory.”