the International Zoo Year Book for 1966 (the only volume I own) has listings for Ratufa indica being bred at both London and Calcutta in 1964 I rather suspect that the failings of successful breeding in the UK collections formerly was much more to do with lack of intent rather than the species' being particularly difficult to breed. As they were so easy to obtain, and because in the main the UK zoos were the small private jobs that sprung up everywhere in the 60s and 70s, there was probably little inclination to try and breed them
What makes me wonder though is that there is no private breeder of any Ratufa species in Europe or America. Usually, some folks know all rat runs to avoid the legal obstacles that prevent them from having (and breeding) a particular rare species-but not so when comes to Ratufa sp.; hmmm...
at least some private persons are breeding them...here's a captive-bred R. bicolor for sale by an Italian squirrel-keeper on a UK forum last year • View topic - Squirrels for sale
Thanks for the link, @Chlidonias-which is even more remarkable for one poster even claiming to have kept another Ratufa species before. Seems like I have to build up some more "connections" in Italy... Still, I know my share of privately kept exotics (including Northern Viscacha, Common Vampire bat, Chinese Giant salamander, King Cobra, St. Lucia parrot, Kagu, White Uakari etc.)-but haven't come across a Ratufa breeder so far. If so, I'll let you guys know.
it is quite true that if you do a Google search for Ratufa there is precious little that comes about about private pet keeping - the link I found is almost the exception, so they must be very rare
It is even more remarkable that sites like this German one ..::ExoticAnimal.de::.. - Classifieds which offer pretty much everything (including bongo/sable antelopes or Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rats) don't offer any.
