Brandt's Hedgehog found in J&K - A first for India!

In a landmark discovery, Brandt's Hedgehog Paraechinus hypomelas has been recorded for the first time in India from Rajouri and Nowshera, Jammu & Kashmir. The find was made by Amit Sharma, Wildlife Warden, Rajouri-Poonch.

Initially mistaken for the Indian Long-eared Hedgehog, the identity of these specimens was confirmed through DNA analysis. Previously known from Central Asia and the Middle East, this is a significant range extension for the species and a valuable addition to the mammalian diversity of the region.