Furs and Whiskers

byKatie Bagli

Furs, whiskers and hair—who could that be? Mammals, of course! Mention wild mammals and what comes to mind? Herds of elephants, tigers leading their cubs, leopards stalking prey and monkeys swinging from tree to tree. But there are an incredibly large number of other mammals in India’s forests, grasslands, deserts and aquatic bodies that are not so common. Let us explore their quirky ways and intriguing features.

Pika The Ones With Resplendent Headgear They are the swamp deer or barasingha, which literally means antlers (singha) with 12 (bara) pointers. During the mating season, the males among them look exceedingly handsome after growing antlers with many tines. This crowning glory helps to impress the fem