In a significant development for wildlife documentation in the region, the first-ever authentic record of the Indian Long-eared Hedgehog has been reported from the Nowshera area of the Rajouri-Poonch Wildlife Division.
A team headed by Amit Sharma, Wildlife Warden of Rajouri-Poonch, captured the hedgehog specimen from the Nowshera belt. The identity of the species, Hemiechinus collaris, was subsequently confirmed by Dr. Shyamkant S. Talmale, Scientist C at the Zoological Survey of India.
The Indian Long-eared Hedgehog is a small, nocturnal, insectivorous mammal native to northern parts of India and Pakistan. Known for its distinctive large ears, eyes and whiskers, the hedgehog has spines on its back that can be erected as a defense mechanism against predators.
Dr. Vineeta Sharma, Assistant Professor at the Central University, will carry out further DNA analysis and morphometric studies on samples collected from the hedgehog. “This is an exciting discovery that adds to the rich biodiversity of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Sarvesh Rai, Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Wildlife Warden.
He congratulated the staff of the Rajouri-Poonch Wildlife Division and has directed a population estimation study of the Indian Long-eared Hedgehog in the area. Rai has also instructed the Wildlife Warden to survey other regions for the presence of this species, in collaboration with universities and the Wildlife Institute of India. The Indian Long-eared Hedgehog is notably known for its intricate mating rituals involving “dancing” displays by males around females over several days before mating. It is found in parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh in India, and areas of Pakistan. This latest sighting marks a significant addition to the documented biodiversity of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Efforts are underway to better understand the distribution and conservation needs of this unique hedgehog species.
