From forests to farmlands: Patterns of abundance and habitat use of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura) in the changing landscape around a protected area of Southern India

Human-induced land-use changes have significantly altered wildlife habitats, and impacted biodiversity globally. In the Western Ghats of India, the conversion of forests into agricultural lands and plantations has reshaped ecosystems, influencing species distribution and behavior. The Grizzled Giant Squirrel ( Ratufa macroura, hereafter ‘Grizzled squirrel’), endemic to South India and Sri Lanka, is increasingly affected by such changes around protected areas. This study investigates the impact of land-use transitions on Grizzled squirrel abundance and habitat in the Srivilliputhur Forest Division and its surrounding Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in southern India. Density of Grizzled squirrel and its dreys was estimated in both the protected area and its ESZ using distance sampling. Drey site selection was analyzed to understand habitat preferences. Grizzled squirrel density varied significantly across habitats, with the highest density (72.95 ± SE 22 squirrels/km²) observed in mixed plantations (coconut and mango) in the ESZ, and the lowest (10.59 ± SE 6 squirrels/km²) in riparian forests within the protected areas of Srivilliputhur Forest Division. Drey site analysis revealed that in protected areas, Grizzled squirrels preferred taller trees with good canopy connectivity, whereas in plantations, trees with larger crown widths and more branches were favored. A land-use land-cover analysis from 1993 to 2023 revealed a 150.53 % increase in plantation areas and a 43.16 % decline in cropland in the ESZ. The species increasingly uses plantations, likely due to food availability and canopy connectivity. The expansion of plantations has facilitated greater movement of squirrels from protected area to the surrounding plantation, intensifying human-wildlife conflicts. These findings highlight the importance of sustainable plantation management, habitat restoration, and conflict mitigation to ensure the long-term survival of Grizzled squirrel in changing landscapes. • The land around the Srivilliputhur Forest division has undergone significant changes in the last few decades. • Increased connectivity and land-use change has facilitated the movement of Grizzled Squirrels into plantation habitats. • The population of this species is higher in plantations compared to protected area. • Grizzled Squirrels prefer tall trees with good canopy connectivity and crown width for building their dreys.