Giant ground squirrels are master tunnel diggers.

With a lovely appearance and shaggy fur, giant ground squirrels often live in high mountains, with special habits .

There are 14 species of giant ground squirrels, including the Canadian yellow-bellied, Himalayan, Siberian, and long-tailed (living in Central Asia). In Europe, the Alpine giant ground squirrel is the most widely known.

Ground squirrels spend most of their time underground.

Their name - marmot - comes from the German word 'murmunto' , which is derived from the Latin 'mures montis' , meaning "mountain mouse" . They are the largest of the squirrel family, weighing between 3-7kg. Their shaggy fur makes them appear even larger.

This animal spends most of its time underground. But when it leaves its burrow, it usually stands on its hind legs. This is for two reasons : One is to observe its surroundings more easily, and two is to use its front legs to stuff food into its mouth more easily.

Giant ground squirrels dig a complex system of tunnels that other animals can easily get lost in. The longest tunnel ever discovered is 113m long.

These rodents are not very heat tolerant. To them, 20 degrees Celsius feels like 36 degrees Celsius in the sun, thanks to their thick fur. When the temperature drops below -20 degrees Celsius, they often retreat into their burrows, huddle together, and lower their body temperature by 6 degrees Celsius to conserve energy. The smallest are in the middle, where it is warmest.