The pictured individuals are within their “proper” range, in Rajasthan.
(see #26 in this “a shining moment” series for details about the very special, particular location)
However, for more than a few years, feral members of their species lived in several suburbs of Perth, Western Australia.
At least three individuals did 160 kilometres “better”, reaching the Wheatbelt town of Pingelly!
Funambulus pennantii, the northern palm squirrel or five-striped palm squirrel is a gregarious, very nimble, omnivorous, and highly adaptable rodent.
The pictured individuals (photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken 06 February 2020) were living in a National Park, but it would be very easy to see this species, sharing/exploiting the opportunities available in Delhi or Kolkata.
Discover more, here.
By circa 1960, escapees from Perth Zoo had established a substantial population.
However, as I type, southwestern Australia is entirely free – or very nearly so – of these “pests”.
Eradicating some of Australia’s “invaders” has proved horrendously difficult and/or “prohibitively” expensive.
However, it proved surprisingly easy to eradicate Funambulus pennantii, thanks in part to the irresistible allure of peanut butter.
Click here for a brief telling of the rise and fall of their Perth population, or this, for a more sober, detailed account.
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Musically speaking, squirrels have been poorly served…unless your musical taste inclines to one or both of these categories:
1: cutesy-saccharine, so-called “children’s” songs.
2: tedious, lewd-crude innuendo songs of the so-called “adult” kind.
Fortunately, however, I have discovered an extraordinary, “live” duo version of an excellent song.
In Bruce Hornsby’s Resting Place, the troubled narrator knows not where to look, as he tries to start afresh.
One of his desperate suggestions:
Hey, let’s go looking for squirrels
Hornsby is a more able, much more improvisatory pianist than many people realise.
(The Grateful Dead did realise – in that band’s later years, Hornsby was onstage, whenever available)
Here, he is onstage in June 2019, with the world’s greatest mandolinist – Chris Thile (rhymes with “wheelie”)
Live From Here is the successor to A Prairie Home Companion.
Garrison Keillor hand-picked Thile as host, and that has proved a brilliant choice; the show yields an ever-growing trove of uncommonly good music videos.
…And it so happens that Funambulus – the keyword in our featured rodent’s scientific name – means “tightrope walker”.
This is the original recording of Richard Thompson’s The Great Valerio, from the 1974 Richard and Linda Thompson album I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight: