Giant, Rainbow-Colored Squirrels Catch the World’s Eye

^{Screenshot from YouTube video}

A photographer’s viral photos of a giant, multi-colored Malabar squirrel are captivating the internet today. 

Incredible #pictures of giant multi-coloured squirrels set #social media alight!#Photographer Kaushik Vijayan snapped the animals in their native habit. The Malabar Giant #squirrel – double the size of their grey relatives – live deep in the #forests of #India. pic.twitter.com/BLFRZf6VHy

— SWNS.com (@SWNS) April 2, 2019

Vijayan, the amateur photographer who happened to explode overnight, caught pictures of the Malabar squirrel while on a deep trek in an India forest. 

“I felt so amazed by how drop-dead gorgeous it looked,” Vijayan said in an interview with CBS News. “It was indeed a jaw-dropping sight to behold.” 

And, as is fashionable on the internet, people immediately started cracking jokes about the huge, furry creatures. 

Malabar giant squirrels are my new queer icon. pic.twitter.com/6fpElnrZvX

— Jacob J. Erickson (@jacobjerickson) April 3, 2019

No LSD required…..Multicolored Malabar Giant Squirrel photographed in India https://t.co/n23A5LQ6Wd

— Aaron Frost (@MSOwolf) April 4, 2019

The squirrels can grow up to 36 inches long, or almost as tall as an average sized mailbox. They also live about 20 feet up in the trees and fly from tree to tree.  

This colorful beauty is giant squirrel of India, called a Malabar Squirrel ❤🌿 pic.twitter.com/gtcmpvXuRs

— WoW 😮 (@VERYINTERESTlNG) March 26, 2019

Vijayan was shocked at how much attention his photos are getting.

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If you’re hoping to catch a photo of these little guys, you may be in for quite the journey since they only live in South Asia. 

You may also look ridiculous while trying to find them since the internet’s best advice is to climb a tree and remain extremely still for hours on end waiting for them to emerge. 

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Via CBS