The Google Doodle for Valentine’s day 2017 has a very dark secret

GOOGLE'S choice of Doodle for Valentine's Day is harbouring a chilling message.

The search giant's homepage is currently an  interactive game where users aid a cute pangolin’s quest for love.

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But while the game is all about celebrating romance, real pangolins are on the brink of extinction.

The termite-eating animals are a delicacy in their native Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and are "being eaten out of existence",  according to animal charity the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Google created the game with the help of an animal charity to raise awareness of their plight.

It launched on February 11 and and will add new levels throughout Tuesday.

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The interactive Doodle took Google an entire year to create, with the help of the World Wildlife Fund.

The animal charity hopes to raise awareness for the pangolin and has included a link for players to donate to the cause.

Google has created lots of iconic doodles.

Just last week it honoured Carmen Miranda, the Chiquita Banana Girl famous for her hats and costumes.

It paid tribute to Sandford Fleming, the Scottish-born polymath who "created time" on his 190th birthday, too.

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