Rare rodents - South Sea giant rats fall into camera trap - but the first photos could be the last
Researchers have used camera traps on a remote island in the South Pacific to photograph one of the rarest and least researched animal species in the world for the first time. The Vangunu giant rat (Uromys vika), named after the Solomon Island of the same name, was not even known to science until a few years ago. The only animal documented to date was discovered dead next to a felled tree in 2015. It was the first new rodent species to be discovered on the Solomon Islands east of New Guinea in more than 80 years. However, the first recordings of the rats in their natural habitat could also be the last.
According to a study published in the journal "Ecology and Evolution", the rodents are facing extinction due to the deforestation of their habitat in the tropical forests of Vangunu. The fact that they have fallen into camera traps is thanks to the locals: unlike scientists, the Vangunu people have a deep traditional knowledge of the giant rats, wrote the researchers led by Tyrone H. Lavery from the University of Melbourne.
"With the help of camera traps and guided by this knowledge, we wanted to take pictures of Uromys vika in the last large block of primary forest in Vangunu," they said. The animals were attracted by bait containing sesame oil. A total of 95 images of four different specimens were taken. "The rodents were irrefutably identified as Uromys vika due to their large body size, long tails and very short ears."
Giant rats in the South Pacific: government releases area for logging
According to the study, the forests near the village of Zaira are the last suitable habitat for the species: They build their nests in ferns that grow on lowland trees. Not much more is known about their way of life, but the Vangunu rats are said to be so strong that they can even crack coconuts.
"The recently granted permit for deforestation around Zaira will lead to their extinction," the researchers are convinced. They hope that their spectacular photos will help to draw attention to the rare rodents and the protection of their habitat.
"The results presented here come at a critical time for the future of Zaira's forests," Lavery wrote. The inhabitants have been fighting for 16 years to protect their tribal lands from commercial exploitation. Nevertheless, the Solomon Islands government opened the area to logging in November 2022.
Read also:
- The Vangunu giant rats, endemic to the Solomon Islands, inhabit the tropical forests of this South Pacific archipelago, nearby New Guinea.
- The South Sea giant rats, including the species found in the Solomon Islands, are facing extinction due to deforestation and habitat loss, primarily caused by logging activities.
- Efforts to document and protect the Vangunu rats, such as the use of camera traps in the South Pacific, are challenging due to the influence of human activities, like logging in areas like Zaira.
Source: www.stern.de
