Echidna rediscovered, after believed to be extinct for 60 years.Thursday 21st December 2023
A type of Long-beaked echidna, a creatured which was believed to have been extinct for the past 60 years, has been rediscovered in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains. It is described as having “the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole.”
Named the Attenborugh’s long beaked echidna, after David Attenborough, has been photograaphed and sighted for the first time since 1961 during an four week expedition by Oxford University earlier this year. The photo was taken on the last day of the expedition, via one of the 80 trail cameras set up by the students.
“There was a great sense of euphoria, and also relief having spent so long in the field with no reward until the very final day,” he said, describing the moment he first saw the footage with collaborators from Indonesian conservation group Yappenda.
“I shouted out to my colleagues that were still remaining … and said ‘we found it, we found it’ – I ran in from my desk to the living room and hugged the guys.”
Echidna ya Indonesia imepatikana tena baada ya kuangamia kwa miaka 60 - 21 Desemba, 2021 - Aina ya Echidna ya Long-beaked, kiumbe ambacho kilidhaniwa kuwa kimetoweka kwa miaka 60 iliyopita, kimepatikana tena katika Milima ya Cyclops nchini Indonesia. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""mchwa wa hedgehog, pua ya anteater na miguu ya mole"" ni aina ya echidna ya Attenborough, ambayo ilichukuliwa picha na kuonekana kwa mara ya kwanza tangu 1961 wakati wa safari ya wiki nne na Chuo Kikuu cha Oxford mapema mwaka huu." Picha hiyo ilichukuliwa siku ya mwisho ya safari hiyo, kupitia moja ya kamera 80 zilizowekwa na wanafunzi. "Kulikuwa na hisia kubwa ya msisimko, na pia kitulizo baada ya kutumia muda mrefu sana katika uwanja bila tuzo hadi siku ya mwisho,"" alisema, akielezea wakati aliona kwanza picha na washirika kutoka kundi la uhifadhi la Indonesia Yappenda." "Niliwaita wenzangu waliobaki na kusema, ""Tumepata, tumepata"" Nilikimbia kutoka dawati langu hadi chumba cha kuishi na kuwapiga makofi."