Threatened Mammals of Kerala
Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Abbreviations. 3. No. of mammalian species reported from Kerala. 4. Threatened mammal species of Kerala. 5. Slender Loris. 6. Liontailed Macaque. 7. Nilgiri Langur. 8. Indian fox. 9. Indian wild dog. 10. Sloth bear. 11. Clawless Otter. 12. Nilgiri Marten. 13. Malabar Civet. 14. Brown Palm Civet. 15. Tiger. 16. Leopard. 17. Jungle cat. 18. Fishing cat. 19. Leopard cat. 20. Rusty-spotted cat. 21. Asian elephant. 22. Mouse deer. 23. Fourhorned antelope.24. Gaur. 25. Nilgiri Tahr. 26. Indian Pangolin. 27. Grizzled Giant Squirrel. 28. Small Travancore Flying Squirrel. Selected bibliography.
From the preface: "Since about the year 1400, when European exploration and colonization began, several species of animals have become extinct, and now extinction rates are increasing exponentially. Many of the recorded extinctions that have occurred in recent centuries have been caused by human activities. Most of the surviving species of big tropical animals will soon disappear outside of protected areas. Even in protected areas, large species are vulnerable except in the larger and most secure reserves. It is well known that larger animals often determine the spatial distribution of other species in ecological communities. When the large animals disappear, the ecological changes that follow will often be swift and profound.
"77 species of mammals are now threatened in India. Kerala shares 24 of them.
"The present book is designed with a view that it will be used as an identification manual by the interested workers who are fond of learning about these animals and generating the awareness for their conservation and perpetuation in nature."
From the introduction: "The book deals with 24 threatened species of mammals found in Kerala, belonging to 21 genera under 12 families. Classification followed in the book is based on Wilson and Reeder (1993). Status is given after Zoological Survey of India Red Data Book (1994), but for some species, viz., Vulpes bengalensis, Cuon alpinus, Melursus ursinus, Felis chaus the same is given on the basis of observations of the authors in the state."
