On the island of Hokkaido, at the northern end of Japan, lives a host of creatures too cute to possibly be real. But, lucky for us, they are very real. And while there is no shortage of cute animals in the world (such as this precious puppy who can't handle a lemon), little animals are a very special kind of cute. This island, the second largest in Japan, is home to some very unique wildlife. And because it is the least developed of Japan's islands, most of its nature is totally untouched. Thus, its forests and its furry inhabitants thrive, happy and undisturbed. Wouldn't it be great if nature could be preserved like that all over the world? After you've scrolled through these adorable animals, be sure to watch the video at the end. It's one thing to see a picture of this bafflingly cute critter, but to truly appreciate it, you need to see it in action! If you thought these little creatures were precious, please SHARE them with your friends!
1. Shima-Enaga
This little ball of fluff is the Shima-Enaga, a type of long-tailed tit. This bird is so sweet-looking, it's almost comical.
When the Shima-Enaga is a baby, it has black eyebrows — but when it grows up, it turns pure white.
2. Ezo Momonga
Yeah, I didn't believe this was real at first, either — but it is! The Ezo momonga is a kind of flying squirrel.
On the island of Hokkaido, this ball of cuteness is so beloved that it's printed on their railway tickets.
3. Hokkaido Red Fox
The Hokkaido red fox is revered in Japan, as they're believed to possess magical powers.
In Japanese folklore, foxes are shape-shifting, supernatural tricksters — but they just look cuddly to me.
4. Hokkaido Red Squirrel
In Japan, the kanji character for squirrel is written as "chestnut rat."
Could this pudgy little thing get any cuter? I don't think it's scientifically possible.
5. Iizuna
The iizuna, or least weasel, are another animal with great significance in Japanese mythology. If you can believe it, these little guys were believed to be bad omens.
The cry of a weasel was thought to be a harbinger of great misfortune.
6. Ezo Fukuro
Ezo was the historical name for Hokkaido, so this fluffy little guy's name actually translates into "Ezo owl."
He may blend right in with his cozy tree, but I can spot his cuteness from a mile away!
7. Ezo Naki Usagi
The Ezo naki usagi, or crying rabbit, belongs to the pika family. And if that name sounds vaguely familiar, it's because it inspired the little cartoon Pokemon named Pikachu!
This fluffy little roly-poly collects and stores greenery during the warmer months, then munches away during the snowy winter.
To see a Japanese pika in action, watch the video below. And please SHARE if you thought these exotic animals were adorable.
