A Giant Rainbow-Colored Squirrel May Sound Like Something From A Fairy Tale, But They Are Real And Absolutely Adorable
You cannot expect people to take you seriously if you mention “giant rainbow squirrels.” It really sounds like something taken from a children’s story, but it’s a nickname for the Malabar Giant Squirrel (also known as Ratufa indica or the Indian Giant Squirrel).
As the name suggests, they can be found in India. They earned their nickname due to their multicolored fur, which makes them extremely interesting.
Fortunately, this colorful fur helps them blend in with their surroundings, serving as camouflage against predators. Unfortunately, it does not protect them from poachers, who pose the most significant threat to this species.
The squirrels usually press themselves against a surface and distort their bodies as much as possible to blend in. Most of these animals grow to about 30 inches long, making them larger than a cat or a small dog. Some squirrels can grow up to three feet long, but that is quite rare.
Their method of communication is as cute as their appearance; they use chittering sounds to converse. Like other squirrels, they are herbivores and are active during the day. Their favorite foods include jackfruit and passion fruit.
These squirrels are not particularly afraid of humans and do not run away when approached. However, this behavior is changing due to heavy poaching, and over time, they may become more wary of humans. Despite this, they are known to approach people, likely in search of food, and sometimes they even enter houses.
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