An international team led by scientists from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) has found in the Cyclops Mountains (Indonesia) a live specimen of a species of mammal that had not been reported for 60 years. This is the popularly known as Attenborough's long-beaked echidna (after the British naturalist David Attenborough), a critically endangered species with the scientific name Zaglossus attenboroughi. This peculiar creature combines such disparate characteristics as a snout similar to that of an anteater, spines around the skin similar to those of a hedgehog, and limbs comparable to those of a mole.
This rediscovery occurred during the last day of a four-week expedition. Trail cameras first captured the echidna walking through the forest undergrowth. Biologist James Kempton, leader of the expedition, described the moment as a "great feeling of euphoria" and a "relief" after spending so much time in the field with no rewards until the last day.
The Attenborough long-beaked echidna, a member of the monotremes, a group of egg-laying mammals that diverged from the rest of the mammalian tree of life about 200 million years ago, had only been scientifically recorded once in 1961 by a Dutch botanist. The species was photographed again during this expedition, providing a new opportunity to study and better understand this unique creature.
During their journey, Kempton's team faced numerous challenges, from earthquakes to malaria and leeches stuck to the eyeballs that affected members of the expedition. They worked in collaboration with local Yongsu Sapari village to explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua, where the creature is embedded in local culture. According to tradition, conflicts are resolved by sending the disagreeing parties into the forest in search of the echidna, symbolizing the end of the conflict and the return to harmonious relations.
This rediscovery not only offers a fascinating insight into a unique species but also an opportunity to advance conservation efforts. The Attenborough long-beaked echidna, classified as critically endangered, could become a symbol of hope for the conservation of these creatures which, along with the platypus, are the only mammals that lay eggs.
The expedition also revealed other surprises, including new species of insects and frogs, as well as healthy populations of tree kangaroos and birds of paradise. This exciting rediscovery underscores the importance of ecosystem exploration and conservation, as well as the need to preserve critically endangered species for future generations.
