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Giant Squirrel (Ratufa affinis)

One of the world’s largest tree-dwelling rodents, with a nose-to-tail length of up to 45 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg, the giant squirrel is found only in the dipterocarp and lower montane forests of Borneo. Active during daylight, the giant squirrel feeds mostly on seeds and occasionally on leaves, shoots, bark, insects and bird eggs.

The giant squirrel is highly territorial, defending its territory with a series of short, harsh chattering sounds that are often audible for several hundred metres. When threatened it will either flee, leaping up to six metres between trees, or will flatten itself against a branch, remaining completely motionless for long periods and relying on its dull colouring as camouflage.