A species of animal that was thought to be completely extinct for over 60 years has surprisingly reappeared, leaving many scientists astonished.
Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna, also known as the Sir David Long-beaked Echidna, is a species named after the famous British naturalist David Attenborough. This small mammal belongs to the echidna family and is distributed across New Guinea and the Papua province of Indonesia.
This is the smallest species in the long-beaked echidna genus, weighing between 5 to 10 kg, with males being larger than females. It possesses a long snout similar to that of an anteater, sharp spines like a hedgehog, and claws akin to a mole.
Image of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna captured by camera traps on Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountain. (Photo: RT).
Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna is solitary and only comes together during the breeding season in July to mate.
Despite being a mammal, this species lays eggs rather than giving birth. The eggs are kept in the mother’s pouch until they hatch, and the young will remain in the pouch for about 8 weeks until their spines develop. The young feed on milk from the pores on the mother’s belly.
This nocturnal creature can curl up into a spiky ball for defense when threatened, much like a hedgehog. Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna lives in burrows and is quite timid, making it very challenging to track this elusive species. Its diet consists of earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and ants.
The last recorded specimen of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna was in 1961, and no other specimens have been reported since, leading scientists to believe that this species was extinct.
However, recently scientists captured images of this animal on the Cyclops Mountain range, located west of Jayapura city in Papua (Indonesia).
According to reports, scientists from the University of Oxford (UK) collaborated with the YAPPENDA wildlife conservation organization (Indonesia) to set up camera traps to monitor wildlife in the remote areas of the Cyclops Mountain range. They were astonished when the cameras recorded images of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna.
Biologist James Kempton from the University of Oxford expressed his excitement about what the camera traps had captured.
Video of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna captured at night by camera traps.
To search for traces of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna, James Kempton’s research team trekked through forests and lived for an extended period in a mountain village, enduring an earthquake and suffering from malaria.
Additionally, the research team collaborated with local people to deploy over 80 monitoring cameras. They also climbed several mountains, reaching a total elevation of over 11,000 meters, higher than Mount Everest, just to search for this species that has been missing for over 60 years. Despite the challenges, the final outcome was entirely worth it.
Local guides helped scientists set up temporary laboratories right in the forest for the search. However, after four weeks in the forest, they found nothing.
Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna lays eggs instead of giving birth.
However, no one expected that on the very last day of the expedition, while reviewing the images from the last memory card pulled from the 80 cameras, they would discover a small creature moving through the dense forest. The first photos of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna were later verified by Professor Kristofer Helgen, a mammal researcher, chief scientist, and director of the Australian Museum Research Institute.
Dr. James Kempton, the biologist from the University of Oxford who conceptualized and led the expedition, stated: “This discovery is the result of immense effort and more than three and a half years of planning. While some may describe the Cyclops Mountain area—where Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna was found—as a ‘green hell,’ I find the scenery there to be truly magnificent. It is both enchanting and dangerous, reminiscent of the tales from Tolkien’s stories.”
During the trip, the research team also conducted the first comprehensive assessments of invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals in the Cyclops Mountain range.
The long-beaked echidna genus is recorded to include 5 species, of which 2 are extinct. The discovery of signs of existence of Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna after more than 60 years will significantly alter the information about this animal genus.
David Attenborough (born 1926) is a renowned British broadcaster and naturalist. He has had a career spanning over 60 years in television and has hosted a series of famous nature documentaries worldwide. With his warm, rich voice and extensive knowledge of the natural world, he has become one of the most beloved television presenters globally. Attenborough is regarded as one of the most famous television hosts in the world. He has helped raise public awareness about the natural world and has inspired many to care about environmental protection. He remains very active in advocating for environmental protection and wildlife conservation. Attenborough’s contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Knight Bachelor honor from the British Royal Family. |
