Check Out This Incredible Giant Squirrel From India That Looks Too Good To Be True
John Koprowski thought he knew squirrels. Then he visited India and the Malabar giant squirrel showed up, big enough to make his jaw do the “no way” thing.
This isn’t a cute little backyard blur. And here’s where it gets complicated, because people love the idea of spotting it, but the squirrel’s shy routine means even a small noise can send it sprinting back to its nest.
So yeah, this one looks too good to be true, but it’s real, and it’s living its best life in the treetops.
An incredible discovery
The Indian giant squirrel is also known as the Malabar giant squirrel. When squirrel expert John Koprowski first saw it while visiting India, he was stunned by its massive size.
That’s the general feeling this fascinating creature inspires in many people.
Why it’s referred to as a giant
That first stunned moment in India is why people keep comparing the Malabar giant squirrel to something that should not exist in the squirrel family.
This squirrel is much bigger than other squirrel species. It resembles a primate and is twice as large as an eastern grey squirrel, with a body that spans 36 inches from head to tail.
Malabar giant squirrels shine the brightest
Once you see how twice as large it is as an eastern grey squirrel, the “giant” part stops being a marketing word and starts being a warning label.
This squirrel has gorgeous fur that comes in multiple colors. It can be orange, maroon, or purple, which are quite unusual colors for mammals. These bright colors help them survive in the wild.
And if you love “missing for decades” stories, check out the tiny elephant shrew (sengi) spotted alive after a 50-year absence.
Their diet
This squirrel eats fruit, flowers, nuts, and tree bark. However, some subspecies are omnivorous and eat insects and bird eggs.
How to find Malabar giant squirrels
And when you realize it eats fruit, flowers, nuts, tree bark, and sometimes even insects or bird eggs, it becomes clear this squirrel is built for survival, not selfies.
They are shy animals, so the best way to find them is to climb up a tree, stay quiet, and wait for them to come out of their nests.
Any noise will send them scampering for safety.
Good news!
The real test comes when you try to find one, because climbing up a tree quietly is the difference between a glimpse and watching it vanish the second you make noise.
Malabar giant squirrels are going to be around for a long time. They aren’t in danger of extinction, but they still need some form of protection.
One more look for the culture. Aren’t they just too adorable?
Have you fallen in love with these creatures as we have? We bet some people are planning to visit India to meet them. It’s understandable.
We can’t wait for all the other fascinating species scientists will discover soon.
What do you find most interesting about Malabar giant squirrels? Let us know in the comments section below!
If you ever hear someone say they “almost” saw a Malabar giant squirrel, believe them, because it was gone in a heartbeat.
See why the Malabar giant squirrel’s patchy dark colors help it avoid detection in the wild, in this incredible color-overload discovery.
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