These Adorable Squirrels Are Only Found On One Japanese Island

Everyone loves cute animals. Everyone. No exceptions. And no matter what your favourite animal is, everyone loves something that is small, cute, and fluffy. Now, you’d be forgiven for not having heard of the Ezo Momonga. However, today is the day you learn about the cutest squirrels in the world.

These tiny flying squirrels are the cutest things in the world, look at their big eyes and adorable faces! However, you can only find them in one place on earth, the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. So, it’s quite a trip if you want to get out there.

Unfortunately, the squirrels are naturally shy and inquisitive, but this makes for the cutest photos. Their bodies look entirely spherical, and this chubby aesthetic is exactly what we want from a cute animal.

Also known as Japanese dwarf flying squirrels, they are pretty much nocturnal and live quiet herbivorous lifestyles. In contrast, the flying bit comes into play when they jump from tree to tree in their sub-alpine environment.

The cute squirrels only ever reach 20cm (8 inches) in length and weigh a maximum of 220g, but despite their small stature and adorable nature, they don’t appear to have many natural predators. As such, they are not an endangered species, and scientists list them as “least concern”, the safest rating for an animal.

Japan is home to many interesting creatures, possibly because of its island structure. However, this is for sure the cutest. Rumours suggest that Japanese dwarf flying squirrels inspired the creators of Pokemon. You have to admit, if it was coloured yellow, it has a similarity to a certain Pikachu… Above all, it is really really cute.