‘How are these real?’: Twitter fascinated over giant, multicolored squirrel
Most squirrels are grey, brown or even red, but have you ever seen a multicolored one? One was spotted in India, and Twitter is mesmerized.
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Photos of a huge squirrel with orange, yellow, blue and purple fur recently surfaced online. The picture was snapped by photographer Kaushik Vijayan, who saw the rodent in a forest in the Pathanamthitta District, according to The Independent.
While the animal looks fake or spray-painted, it’s real, and it’s called a Malabar giant squirrel. The furry fellow, native to India, can grow up to 3 feet long from head to toe and can jump more than 20 feet.
As images of the creature were shared, people took to Twitter to express their fascination. Most seemed to be in love with its colors.
This colorful beauty is giant squirrel of India, called a Malabar Squirrel ❤🌿 pic.twitter.com/gtcmpvXuRs
— WoW 😮 (@VERYINTERESTlNG) March 26, 2019
@Shinar_Squirrel
— Ken (@Kenneth_Jn17_17) April 3, 2019
This color looks good, brother. https://t.co/77vXB9vCPn
Can we splice giant Malabar squirrel genes into humans, so I can stop paying to turn my hair these colors? https://t.co/QD3hbyGKeu
— Seanan McGuire (@seananmcguire) April 2, 2019
Hey @megmyers I thought You’d Enjoy This Photo Of The Multicolored Indian Malabar Giant Squirrel! It’s Literally A Rainbow Squirrel! 🌊🌈🐿🦄🍋👀🥁🎻🎸🎤👩🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/dzPLrjySJ6
— Charles Goddard MD (@cgoddardmd1) April 3, 2019
If anyone is going to India soon please steal me a resplendent, fantastical Malabar giant squirrel so that it can be my bright and bushy-tailed squirrel friend forever and ever and ever thank you very much. https://t.co/T5VpTEpB6f
— eric witz (@aphonik) March 30, 2019
Others were surprised by the size.
Yes, the #Malabar squirrel is colorful.
— Justin Finch (@JustinNBC4) April 3, 2019
Yes, it's not boring to look at.
Yes, I'd be shocked to see on in the wild.
BUT THEY ARE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF OUR AVERAGE US SQUIRRELS! As long as 36 inches. https://t.co/NThl90ac1H
The Malabar giant squirrel (India) can grow to be three feet long (tail included) and jump a distance of over 20 feet. pic.twitter.com/iuBEEPnr0A
— Amanda Vidal (@AmandaVidalsv) April 3, 2019
And many said they couldn’t believe the creature was real and had no clue it even existed.
How have I never heard of these beautiful creatures before? Malabar giant squirrels 🐿 pic.twitter.com/YQR3lBPUxo
— Lisa Lisa (@sumairajade) April 2, 2019
@TheBeastcub I know you like crazy, colorful, unique animals, and I was just made aware of the existence of this - the Malabar Giant Squirrel. pic.twitter.com/vWEbrfq7Jr
— Elegant Equine (@horsehalo15) April 3, 2019
I had to check if this was real, and not an April Fool, and it is real! Beautiful!
— Dave Roberts (@dave_in_oxford) April 2, 2019
how are these real
— Cassandra Khaw (@casskhaw) April 2, 2019
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About the Author
Najja Parker is a multimedia journalist covering Black culture for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.
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