Nocturnal flying squirrels (Petaurista philippensis): spotting glide launches from canopy trees?
4 Answers from travellers
The Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis / Maha Hambawa) emerges from hollow tree cavities roughly 30 minutes after sunset. They inhabit tall canopy trees—such as Albizia, Jak, and rubber—bordering home gardens in the wet hill country. Spotters locate them by listening for loud, single-note wailing calls echoing across valley slopes. Before launching a glide, the squirrel bobs its head to estimate distance, then leaps into space with its patagium (skin membrane) spread wide, gliding gracefully across 50 to 80 meters down to lower branches.
Use high-ISO camera settings (ISO 6400+) paired with thermal monoculars to track their heat silhouette against cool canopy foliage before they launch.
Their large eyes reflect a dull reddish-orange glow under soft red flashlights, differentiating them from fruit bats which do not glide on stretched membranes.
Overhead powerlines crossing tea plantations present severe electrocution risks to flying squirrels gliding between isolated canopy tree pockets.
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