Flying lemur mistaken for aswang

Kagwang, not aswang.

Facebook users are up in arms over a post from June 24 branding a Philippine Flying Lemur "aswang." The lemur is shown being restrained and it is unclear where and how it was caught, and if it is still alive.

Contrary to the user's claims that the kagwang attacked other animals in the area, it is actually a "folivore" or an animal that mainly eats leaves.

The kagwang is endemic to the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao Faunal Region. Bohol.ph lists is as an endangered species.

The photo has been shared over five thousand times since posting, with many spreading information about the flying lemur and discouraging violent behavior against it and other animals.

"The last time I saw kagwang (Philippine flying lemur) was in my early childhood (around 6 or 7 years old) when our neighbor in Sitio Ilawod (Salog) of Brgy Caminto in Inopacan, Leyte caught one," one user wrote. "This post reminds me how disgusting the smell of kagwang was—sobrang anghit, maangsong-maangso, masangsang sa ilong—triple worse than the smell of flying bat. No wonder my old folks would cuss "nanimaho ka nang kagwang" if you forgot or was too lazy to take a bath. The poor kagwang was slaughtered and taken as pulutan."

The user attempted to tag the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and once again spread the detail that the Philippine Flying Lemur is endangered. — TJD, GMA News