Researchers discover golden mole rat that is actually extinct
Researchers in South Africa spend two years searching for De Winton's golden mole rat. They finally make a find on a beach. The story that the mammal is extinct has to be rewritten.
The De Wintons golden mole rat has silky, shimmering fur, is blind, burrows like a mole - and was thought to have been extinct for 87 years. Researchers from South Africa have now been able to prove that this is not true. As they have now announced, they have discovered traces of the De Winton's golden mole rat on beaches around the small harbor town of Port Nolloth.
Golden mole rats are similar in body structure to moles and, like them, live mainly underground. There are around 21 different species - the extremely shy De Winton's golden mole-rat is known to "swim" on the beach, leaving no trace as the sand quickly covers its burrows. This makes the search for it extremely difficult. According to the researchers, the last time it was seen was in 1936.
The team from the South African non-governmental organization Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the University of Pretoria has been searching for the small animal since 2021. Every day, they have searched "up to 18 kilometers of habitat buried in the dunes", reported Esther Matthew from the EWT.
With the help of around one hundred DNA samples from the environment - skin cells, fur hair or body excretions - they were able to prove that at least two specimens of the De Winton's golden mole rat still exist. A tracking dog then sniffed out the animals' tunnels, Matthew said. "It was like a detective story." Eventually, the researchers were able to capture the cute specimens on video and still camera.
Now that "we know that the little golden mole rat still exists, we know that we can still save it," said animal rights activist Devin Murphy. His NGO Re:Wild has set itself the task of searching for long-lost animal species.
Despite the extinction claim lasting for over eight decades, recent education in South Africa has led to the rediscovery of the elusive De Winton's golden mole rat. These uniquely adapted animals, known for their burrowing habits and beach-dwelling behavior, share a home with various other species of golden mole rats.
Source: www.ntv.de
