Indian Palm Squirrel

There is a cute myth about these little creatures. Apparently in the days of the Ramayama, when Rama was building a bridge to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita, this little fellow worked really hard to help, rolling his body in the wet sand, then depositing it in the water where the bridge was being built. He worked so tirelessly, that he caught Rama's attention. When the whole episode was over and Sita rescued, Rama picked him up to thank him for his efforts. At that time he stroked him along his back, and from then on it had 3 stipes down it's back from Rama's fingers!

These little creatures are almost at epidemic proportions in my garden in Tamil Nadu, India. I had no fruit left on any of my trees, until a pair of Shikra built their nest in a tall neem tree in the middle of the garden. These animals are apparently a tasty meal for Shikras, and I notice a lot less of them now! Nature rules!