Arunachal's unique wedding tradition: Squirrels as gifts

Guwahati: Have you heard of squirrels being shared as part of marriage customs?

In Arunachal Pradesh, due to the significant threat posed by excessive squirrel hunting, the “Kebang,” which serves as the local governing body of the Adi community, has implemented a measure whereby squirrels are shared as part of the marriage custom.

This was found out by Hiranmoy Chetia, a PhD scholar from Amity University, Noida while researching the diversity, distribution, and threats to the squirrels in Arunachal Pradesh, India under the guidance of Dr. Murali Krishna Chatakonda. The study was done from January 2019 to Oct 2022

“In this arrangement, when a groom presents four individual Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrels as a dowry to the bride’s family, the bride’s family is obligated to pass these squirrels to another groom. This rotational system is designed to reduce the pressure on the species caused by hunting” he says.

“Likewise, in the districts of Dibang and Lower Dibang Valley, local initiatives aimed at the conservation of the endemic Mishmi Hills Gliding Squirrel are currently in progress,” he says.

Small mammals, like squirrels, are often overlooked in conservation efforts, despite playing a vital role in healthy ecosystems. For instance, squirrels help regenerate forests by burying nuts and seeds, which later sprout into new trees. This is why they can be nicknamed “founders of forests.”

Chetia recorded a dozen species scurrying through its forests, including five tree squirrels, six species of gliding squirrels, and one ground squirrel species. The recorded species included Himalayan Striped Squirrel, Hoary-bellied Himalayan Squirrel, Pallas’s Squirrel, Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Particolored Gliding Squirrel, Red Giant Gliding Squirrel, Hodgson’s Giant Gliding Squirrel, Grey-headed Gliding Squirrel, Mishmi Hills Giant Gliding Squirrel, Bhutan Giant Gliding Squirrel and Himalayan Marmot.

Cultural Connection:

Beyond habitat, Chetia delved into the cultural connection between tribal communities and squirrels. “While most communities used squirrels for food, some had unique practices. Gliding squirrels found themselves in medicinal concoctions, while the Monpa people viewed them as a daytime bad omen. The Adi community, on the other hand, held the Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel and Pallas’s Squirrel in high esteem. They used them as dowry items and even had a fascinating myth surrounding this practice” he told EastMojo.

Tree squirrel species like the Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel and the Himalayan Striped Squirrel seemed to tolerate villages nestled within forests, as long as heavy human activity was absent. Hoary-bellied Himalayan Squirrel exhibited a preference for habitats closer to the village, including certain human-made plantations, as opposed to the natural forests.

The story gets even more intriguing with the gliding squirrels. Three species, the Particolored Gliding Squirrel, the Grey-headed Gliding Squirrel, and the Mishmi Hills Giant Gliding Squirrel, shared the same forest types in Lower Dibang Valley.

Climate change threat:

To understand their ideal habitats, he created maps predicting suitable habitats for five squirrel species (Malayan Giant Squirrel, Red Giant Gliding Squirrel, Particolored Gliding Squirrel, Hodgson’s Giant Gliding Squirrel and Grey-headed Gliding Squirrel). Interestingly, the most influential factor wasn’t altitude or vegetation type, but the variation in temperature throughout the year. Rainfall patterns during the driest month also played a key role. Surprisingly, factors like land use and slope had minimal impact.

“It needs to be taken into account that these squirrels are under the threat of climate change. Most suitable habitats are clustered in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, a haven for these fascinating creatures. However, a worrying trend emerged” he says.

When he compared their maps with on-ground surveys, he discovered a gap in protection. These vital squirrel habitats often fell outside existing protected areas. Taking a closer look, he zoomed in on three districts (Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit, and West Kameng). He studied how human activity affected the squirrels. Tree squirrel species like the Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel and the Himalayan Striped Squirrel seemed to tolerate villages nestled within forests, as long as heavy human activity was absent.

Hoary-bellied Himalayan Squirrel exhibited a preference for habitats closer to the village, including certain human-made plantations, as opposed to the natural forests. The story gets even more intriguing with the gliding squirrels. Three species, the Particolored Gliding Squirrel, the Grey-headed Gliding Squirrel, and the Mishmi Hills Giant Gliding Squirrel, shared the same forest types in Lower Dibang Valley. But logging cast a long shadow, reducing their encounters in these areas.

“Arunachal Pradesh’s expansive and diverse landscape encompasses a vast expanse of varied topographic features. The challenge of conducting comprehensive surveys in a limited timeframe is formidable. Chetia says an extended survey needs to be done to meticulously document the rich tapestry of squirrel species found within the state.

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