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Sustainability Times
a day ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Lost for 62 Years Then Found Alive': Ultra-Rare Egg-Laying Mammal Resurfaces in Remote Indonesian Rainforest Against All Odds
IN A NUTSHELL 🦔 Scientists have rediscovered the Attenborough's long-beaked echidna in the Indonesian rainforest after being thought extinct for over 60 years. the Attenborough's long-beaked echidna in the Indonesian rainforest after being thought extinct for over 60 years. 📷 The discovery was made using camera traps and indigenous knowledge, capturing 110 photographs confirming the species' existence. and indigenous knowledge, capturing 110 photographs confirming the species' existence. 🌿 The echidna is one of only five living species of egg-laying mammals , belonging to an ancient lineage known as monotremes. , belonging to an ancient lineage known as monotremes. 🔍 This finding underscores the importance of conservation efforts and the role of technology in wildlife discovery and protection. In an extraordinary turn of events, scientists have confirmed the rediscovery of the Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, a species thought to be extinct for over six decades. This remarkable find was made deep in the Indonesian rainforests, reviving hopes for the survival of this ancient species. Named after the legendary naturalist David Attenborough, this species is one of the Earth's few egg-laying mammals, known for its spiky fur and distinctive beak. Often called 'living fossils,' echidnas have an ancient lineage, believed to have originated around 200 million years ago during the era of dinosaurs. The photographic evidence of this elusive creature has been a breakthrough in the scientific community, shedding light on the biodiversity hidden within the depths of our planet's rainforests. Finding Elusive Echidna The rediscovery of the long-beaked echidna, known scientifically as Zaglossus attenboroughi, marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation. The species had not been recorded in over 60 years, with the last known observation being a dead specimen now housed in the Treasure Room of the Naturalis Museum in the Netherlands. In 2023, an expedition from Oxford University to the remote Cyclops Mountains, located 6,561 feet above sea level, provided the first glimmer of hope. During this expedition, researchers deployed modern scientific techniques, including camera-trapping, and set up 73 camera traps across a 2.7 square mile area. These traps were strategically placed along animal trails and ridgelines, where potential echidna 'nose-pokes' were found — these are holes created by echidnas while foraging for invertebrates underground. Local indigenous knowledge played a crucial role in this discovery. Generations of local communities had reported sightings of the echidna, and their insights were invaluable in guiding the search. The combined efforts of modern science and traditional knowledge culminated in the capture of 110 photographs from 26 separate events, providing irrefutable proof that Attenborough's long-beaked echidna is alive and thriving in the Cyclops Mountains. This rediscovery not only highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge in scientific research but also emphasizes the significance of collaboration between local communities and scientists in preserving biodiversity. 'Predator Found at 26,000 Feet': Scientists Discover First-Ever Hunter Living in the Abyss of an 8,000-Meter Ocean Trench Unique Evolutionary History The long-beaked echidna is one of only five living species of egg-laying mammals, belonging to an ancient lineage called monotremes. These creatures diverged from other mammals over 200 million years ago, making them some of the planet's most enigmatic 'lost species.' The rediscovery of Zaglossus attenboroughi underscores the importance of conserving a unique evolutionary history that connects us to the distant past. Previously found in the Oenaka Range of Papua New Guinea, the Cyclops Mountains now serve as the only confirmed modern stronghold for this distinct species. The significance of this discovery extends beyond the survival of a single species. It offers hope for the preservation of other 'lost species' amidst a global biodiversity crisis. With more than 2,000 so-called lost species identified, some may indeed be extinct, yet rediscoveries like this prove that others survive, especially in regions where biological research has been limited. This find is a beacon of hope, encouraging further exploration and study of the world's unexplored regions. Biologists Alarmed as Newly Discovered Chain Reaction Threatens to Trigger Mass Extinction Across Multiple Species Worldwide Conservation Efforts and Global Implications The confirmation of the long-beaked echidna's existence is a call to action for conservationists worldwide. Protecting this species and its habitat in the Indonesian rainforest is vital for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. The findings, published in the journal NPJ Biodiversity, highlight the need for heightened conservation efforts and increased awareness of the challenges faced by unique habitats. Conservationists are now focused on creating strategies to safeguard the echidna's environment from threats such as deforestation and habitat degradation. The international scientific community must collaborate with local governments and organizations to ensure the protection of this ancient species. This rediscovery also prompts a reevaluation of conservation priorities, urging policymakers to consider the ecological value of species that have been overlooked or presumed extinct. 'This Thing Shouldn't Exist': Scientists Stunned as Humanity Witnesses This Deep-Sea Monster Alive for the First Time Ever The Role of Technology in Wildlife Discovery The rediscovery of the long-beaked echidna underscores the transformative role of technology in wildlife conservation. The use of camera traps and other modern scientific methods has proven invaluable in documenting and monitoring elusive species. These technologies enable researchers to gather data in challenging environments, providing insights into the behaviors and habitats of species that are difficult to study through traditional means. As technology continues to evolve, its application in wildlife research is likely to expand, offering new opportunities to explore and understand the natural world. This case highlights the potential for technological advancements to revolutionize conservation efforts, making it possible to rediscover and protect species that would otherwise remain hidden. The integration of technology with traditional knowledge and conservation strategies is essential for addressing the complex challenges posed by biodiversity loss in the 21st century. The rediscovery of Attenborough's long-beaked echidna serves as a powerful reminder of the mysteries that still lie hidden within our planet's ecosystems. This finding raises important questions about how many other 'lost species' might be waiting to be found and what steps we can take to protect these invaluable treasures. How can we continue to balance technological advancements with traditional knowledge to ensure the survival of our planet's most extraordinary creatures? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (23)
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Echidna mothers change their pouch microbiome to protect tiny ‘pink jelly bean' puggles, new research finds
When echidna mothers nurse their young, known as puggles, the microbiome of their pouch changes to protect their babies in their first weeks of life, new research has found. These first few weeks are critical for puggles. At this early developmental stage, they are tiny – roughly the size of a 5-cent coin – and vulnerable. 'They can't see and they don't have a functional immune system,' said Isabella Wilson, lead author of the study published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology. Echidnas lay their eggs into a temporary pouch, which they create by contracting their abdominal muscles. After about 10 days, puggles hatch from their eggs looking like, in Wilson's words, 'little pink jelly beans'. During lactation, probiotic bacteria in the echidna's pouch increases, which the University of Adelaide researchers suggested offers protection to puggles and their developing immune systems. The reproductive biology of the echidna is unique in many respects, Wilson said. Monotremes – echidnas and platypus – share a lot of 'weird features', she said. As well as laying eggs, they lack nipples. So instead of suckling, puggles rub their beaks against a part of the pseudo-pouch called the milk patch, causing milk to come out of the mother's skin. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email This milk, which is sometimes pink, has barely any lactose compared to that of most other animals. 'The young hang out there [in the pseudo-pouch] for a few months, drink up a lot of milk,' Wilson said. 'Then, when they start to grow spines, they get turfed out of the pouch into the nursery burrow – where they continue to feed off mum for about 200 days.' An echidna's pouch is only temporary – it is there while a puggle is inside. Healesville Sanctuary echidna keeper Craig McQueen, who was not involved in the research, agreed puggles generally stayed there for six to seven weeks, until their spines became 'too prickly' for mum. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion He said echidnas were curious animals that invested a lot of time into raising their young. When they hatch out of their grape-sized egg, puggles are furless, blind and 'basically looked like they shouldn't have been born yet', he said – which is why they need the 'extra developmental time' in the pouch. The paper explains that the reproductive microbiome, 'which includes vaginal, milk, and mammary microbiota, is increasingly being recognised for its contributions to infant health'. And in monotremes and marsupials, this extends to the pouch. Researchers analysed bacteria present on swabs from both captive animals at Taronga Zoo and wild echidnas on Kangaroo Island. They found that the pouch's microbiome underwent significant changes during lactation, with an increase in lactic acid bacteria typically thought of as probiotic. They found no major difference between the microbiomes of the zoo-managed and wild animals. Wilson said this suggested that milk, rather than any external factors, is the primary element shaping the pouch environment.
