14/07/2025
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In 2023, scientists made a stunning discovery deep in the Cyclops Mountains of Indonesia: Zaglossus attenboroughi, also known as Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, was found alive after being thought extinct for over 60 years. According to Oxford University researchers, this elusive egg-laying mammal had only been recorded once before, in 1961, and was considered one of the planet’s most enigmatic “lost species.” The rediscovery was made possible through a combination of modern technology and local indigenous knowledge, which guided the team to areas where signs of the echidna, such as distinctive “nose pokes” in the soil, had been spotted.
To confirm its existence, the team deployed more than 80 trail cameras across the rainforest. According to Interesting Engineering, these cameras captured 110 photographs from 26 separate events, providing irrefutable proof that the species is still alive. The echidna is one of only five living species of monotremes, a rare group of mammals that lay eggs, including the platypus. Its unique features, spines like a hedgehog, a snout like an anteater, and feet like a mole, make it a living fossil, with evolutionary roots dating back over 200 million years.
According to the University of Oxford, the expedition faced extreme challenges, including venomous animals, blood-sucking leeches, malaria, and even earthquakes. Despite these dangers, the team also discovered dozens of new insect species, a previously unknown cave system, and a tree-dwelling shrimp genus. The rediscovery of Attenborough’s echidna is now seen as a symbol of hope for global biodiversity, especially in regions where scientific exploration has been limited.