Rare white squirrels documented in Kolhapur study published in international journal

Kolhapur: The discovery of two rare leucistic (white coloured) squirrels in the urban settlements of Kolhapur city was published in the international journal Maydica, published from Italy, by researchers from Kolhapur and Satara.The researchers reported that instead of the typical brown or reddish-brown colouration usually found on these squirrels, a pale whitish-grey hue was observed on their bodies. They also found that the characteristic three stripes typically present on their backs were absent.While bird watching on April 12, 2025, wildlife researchers Mayuresh Rampure and Devendra Bhosale spotted a white squirrel in Kolhapur. Initially, they believed there was only one such squirrel, but closer observation revealed two such squirrels at the location. As this phenomenon was being observed for the first time, they initiated an observational study.Upon examining the squirrels, the researchers determined that they belonged to the leucistic category. Leucism is a genetic disorder characterised by a partial or complete reduction of body pigmentation (melanin), while the colour of the eyes remains normal. Subsequently, Devendra Bhosale, Mayuresh Rampure and Kalpana Sable, an assistant professor at MLA Shashikant Shinde College, Satara, authored a research paper based on this event.The study saw the participation and contribution of the Chhatrapati Wildlife Foundation, the Sahyadri Shiledar Seva Trust, and Ashutosh Suryavanshi, Vinayak Alvekar, Shirish Rampure, Omkar Katkar and Shubham Kothawale from the Kolhapur Amateur Photographers Association. The team received guidance from Omkar Yadav, an Assistant Professor based in Satara, and was supported by the Kolhapur Forest Department, specifically the then-Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kamlesh Patil, and Range Forest Officer Ramesh Kamble.