A Long-Lost Mammal Named After Sir David Attenborough | Has Been Found After 60 Years

A Long-Lost Mammal Named After Sir David Attenborough | Has Been Found After 60 Years

A Long-Lost Mammal Named After Sir David Attenborough | Has Been Found After 60 Years

What is Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna?

Imagine a creature that looks like a cross between a hedgehog, an anteater, and a mole. It has spines on its back, a long snout for probing the soil, and claws for digging.

It lays eggs like a reptile, but feeds milk to its young like a mammal. It is one of the most ancient and bizarre animals on the planet, and it is named after one of the most famous and beloved naturalists of all time: Sir David Attenborough.

This is Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, a rare and elusive species of monotreme that lives in the remote Cyclops Mountains of Indonesia.

Monotremes are a group of mammals that diverged from the rest of the mammalian evolutionary tree about 200 million years ago. 

They are the only living mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is one of the four species of echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, that are found in Australia and New Guinea. 

The other three species are the short-beaked echidna, the western long-beaked echidna, and the eastern long-beaked echidna. 

All echidnas have a low body temperature, a keen sense of smell, and a tongue that can extend up to 18 cm to lick up ants, termites, and worms.

How was it rediscovered?

The last recorded sighting of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna was over 60 years ago, and it was feared to be extinct. 

However, in a remarkable scientific breakthrough, a team of scientists from Oxford University, led by biologist James Kempton, has rediscovered this long-lost species in the wild.

The team conducted a four-week expedition in the Cyclops Mountains, a rugged and isolated region in northeastern Papua. 

They collaborated with the local conservation group YAPPENDA and the village of Yongsu Sapari, who helped them navigate and explore the challenging terrain.

The team set up over 80 trail cameras throughout the forest, hoping to capture images of the echidna. 

They also searched for signs of its presence, such as burrows, tracks, and scats. However, for weeks, they found nothing

On the final day of their journey, they retrieved the memory cards from the cameras and checked them for any evidence of the echidna. 

To their astonishment, they found several images of the creature, marking the first time it had been photographed in the wild.

Kempton described the moment of discovery as one of “euphoria and relief,” having spent weeks in the field with no significant findings until the very last day.

The team, which included members from the Indonesian conservation group YAPPENDA, celebrated the discovery with great excitement.

Why is it important?

The rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is not only a scientific triumph, but also a conservation success. 

The echidna is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and climate change.

The echidna is also culturally important for the local community.

 According to Yongsu Sapari elders, conflicts are traditionally resolved by sending one party to search for an echidna in the forest and another to find a marlin in the ocean. 

These creatures are so elusive that it could take decades or even a generation to locate them. However, their discovery symbolizes the resolution of conflict and the restoration of harmony.

The team hopes that their discovery will raise awareness and support for the conservation of the echidna and its habitat. 

They also plan to return to the Cyclops Mountains to conduct further research on the echidna’s ecology, behavior, and genetics.

The echidna is named after Sir David Attenborough, who is widely regarded as the world’s greatest naturalist and broadcaster. 

He has inspired millions of people with his documentaries and books on the wonders of nature. 

He has also been a vocal advocate for the protection of biodiversity and the fight against climate change.

Sir David Attenborough has expressed his gratitude and delight for having the echidna named after him. 

He has also praised the team for their remarkable achievement and urged them to continue their work.

Conclusion : 

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is a unique and fascinating creature that has been rediscovered after 60 years of being lost to science. 

It is a rare and endangered species of monotreme that lives in the remote Cyclops Mountains of Indonesia. 

It is named after Sir David Attenborough, who is a renowned naturalist and conservationist. 

The rediscovery of the echidna is a scientific and conservation milestone that will hopefully lead to more discoveries and actions to protect this remarkable animal and its habitat.

Content , image Source Courtesy :  https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/science/story/mammal-species-named-after-attenborough-rediscovered-it-was-extinct-for-60-years-2461367-2023-11-10