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News: During the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, concerns have been raised over pilgrims feeding, touching and taking photographs with Long-tailed Marmots.
About Long-tailed Marmot (Marmota caudata)
- Long-tailed Marmot also known as the golden marmot.
- It is a rodent of the Sciuridae family.
- Habitat: It lives in open meadows, grasslands, rocky areas, inland cliffs and mountain peaks.
- It is also occasionally found in shrubland and agricultural lands.
- Distribution: It is found in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Northwestern India.
- In India, it occurs in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, between 3,200 and 4,850 m above sea level.
- Characteristics
- Colour: Its dorsal parts are golden yellow to orangish, with a black saddle patch running down the back.
- It also has a black snout and a black patch or ring around the eyes.
- The Tail: Its tail is about half the length of its body, and most of the tail tip is black.
- Digging Adaptations: It is known for its burrowing behaviour and is adapted to alpine habitats.
- Behaviour: It is a diurnal and social mammal that feeds on vegetation and lives in groups.
- Hibernation: It hibernates in a burrow chamber from about September to April or May.
- Threats: It faces threats from habitat destruction, unregulated tourism, free-ranging dogs and climate change.
- Colour: Its dorsal parts are golden yellow to orangish, with a black saddle patch running down the back.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN status: Least Concern
