Echidna thought to be extinct rediscovered
In the extremely remote Cyclops Mountains in Indonesia, researchers have made a sensational discovery: they have rediscovered an echidna that was thought to be extinct for more than six decades. Its namesake is also "absolutely thrilled".
Researchers in Indonesia have rediscovered an echidna that was thought to have been extinct for decades. The Zaglossus attenboroughi only appeared on the last day of a four-week expedition and on the last memory card for the 80 camera traps, explained expedition leader James Kempton from Oxford University. The long-beaked echidna, named after the famous British naturalist David Attenborough, had last been seen in 1961.
Echidnas are among the only remaining mammals that do not give birth to their offspring alive, but lay eggs. They are nocturnal and shy and therefore difficult to find. The Attenborough's long-beaked echidna has never been sighted outside the extremely remote Cyclops Mountains in the Indonesian region of Papua.
"I was ecstatic, the whole team was ecstatic," Kempton told BBC News. "I'm not joking when I say it came down to the very last SD card we looked at, from the very last camera we collected, on the very last day of our expedition." He had subsequently exchanged letters with Attenborough about the rediscovery and he was "absolutely thrilled".
The fact that Kempton and his team found the echidna was also thanks to the support of the local communities, who helped them to find their way around the remote and difficult terrain and also granted them access to sacred places. The researchers have now been rewarded for their efforts with a few seconds of black and white footage of the unusual creature.
During their expedition, biologist Kempton and his team also discovered a number of new species living underground, such as blind spiders, blind weavers and a whip scorpion. They found the animals in a previously unexplored cave system, which was only uncovered when a team member fell through a moss-covered entrance.
The rediscovery of the extinct echidna has significant implications for the field of education in Indonesia, as it highlights the importance of conservation efforts and preserving biodiversity. Additionally, the Attenborough's long-beaked echidna is not only unique to Indonesia but also an interesting subject for animal studies in educational institutions.
Source: www.ntv.de
