'Gwiyomi' Appears at Yeongdeok Temple... Presumed Natural Monument Flying Squirrel

"Wingspread Movement"
Estimated Individuals Discovered Since Last Year

An animal presumed to be a flying squirrel, a natural monument, was discovered in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk.

An animal presumed to be a flying squirrel discovered at Yeongmyeongsa Temple in Yeongdeok. [Image source: Provided by Seokjeong Seunim]

On the 17th, Seokjeong, a monk at Yeongmyeongsa Temple in Chuksan-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, told Yonhap News, "Around 8:30 a.m. on the 16th, I saw a creature sitting on a cherry tree in front of the temple that looked similar to a squirrel but different, so I took a photo out of curiosity." He added, "It was near the temple hall by the tree, and shortly after, it suddenly spread something like wings and moved." The photo taken by the monk showed a creature resembling a squirrel with small ears and large eyes, characteristic of a flying squirrel. The animal wandered around the temple area for a while before disappearing. Monk Seokjeong said, "It was the first time I saw a creature presumed to be a flying squirrel in my life, so I wanted to inform those around me."

An animal presumed to be a flying squirrel discovered at Yeongmyeongsa Temple in Yeongdeok. [Image source provided by Seokjeong Sunim]

The flying squirrel was selected as the "most popular representative wild animal of national parks" in a survey conducted by the Korea National Park Service in 2020. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment designated the flying squirrel as the first "Endangered Wild Species of the Month" starting this month.

The flying squirrel was designated as Natural Monument No. 328 in 1982. In 1998, it was also designated as a Grade 2 endangered wild species. It is a nocturnal small mammal with a body length of 14?16 cm, a tail length of 9?12 cm, and a weight of about 80?120 g. It has larger eyes than other rodents and features a patagium, a membrane stretched between its front and hind legs, allowing it to glide between trees. Flying squirrels have been increasingly discovered in various locations, including the Palhyeon Wetlands area of the Geumho River in Daegu last November, a mountain in Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, Sammachi Pass in Hongcheon-eup, Gangwon, and Bomunsan in Daejeon.