Guwahati: In a significant achievement for wildlife research in Northeast India, senior wildlife biologist Sourav Gupta, has co-authored the 2025 IUCN Red List assessment of Millard’s Rat (Dacnomys millardi), resulting in its reclassification from “Data Deficient” to “Least Concern,” Aaranyak, a wildlife organisation, stated on Tuesday evening.
The reassessment, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was carried out jointly by Gupta and Abi Gazzard, Programme Officer at the IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group, of which Gupta is also a member.
Millard’s Rat plays a crucial ecological role as a seed disperser and a key component of the forest food web
First described in 1916, Millard’s Rat, is a little-known rodent species found across South and Southeast Asia, including Nepal, India, China, Vietnam, and Laos. In India, its range extends through Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, and West Bengal, primarily inhabiting upper montane tropical and subtropical evergreen moist forests between 1,000 and 3,000 metres. The species is mostly terrestrial in nature.
“Millard’s Rat plays a crucial ecological role as a seed disperser and a key component of the forest food web. Its presence strongly indicates the health and integrity of forest habitats,” Gupta said.
According to the IUCN report, the species has an extent of occurrence of approximately 1.32 million sq km, although population data remain limited. While habitat loss due to deforestation and shifting cultivation threatens parts of South Asia, no significant threats have been recorded in Southeast Asia. Experts have called for further studies on its population trends, taxonomy, and potential regional variations to better understand and conserve the species. The IUCN also highlighted the importance of continued monitoring to ensure emerging threats do not compromise the long-term survival of Millard’s Rat
