Two Marsupials Missing for 6,000 Years Found Alive
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📰 The quick summary: Two marsupial species believed to have been extinct for 6,000 years have been found alive in the rainforests of Indonesian Papua, offering hope that other long-lost species may still survive in the region’s remote wilderness.
📈 One key stat: Both species had been absent from scientific records for approximately 6,000 years, making their rediscovery one of the most significant wildlife finds in recent memory.
💬 One key quote: “It’s fantastic to see new species still being discovered and it shows the importance of some of these rainforests in very remote parts of the world where there hasn’t been much study in the past,” said ecologist David Lindenmayer.
1️⃣ The big picture: Two marsupial species, the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider, were long believed to have vanished from Earth around 6,000 years ago, known only through fossil records. Researchers and Indigenous community members recently rediscovered both animals alive in the rainforests of the Bird’s Head Peninsula in Indonesian Papua. Scientists photographed the palm-sized long-fingered possum in 2023, while the ring-tailed glider, a squirrel-sized tree dweller with large eyes and a gliding membrane, was also formally described for the first time. Indigenous residents of the region had known about both animals for generations, and their knowledge proved essential to the scientific identification process. The findings were published in two scientific papers co-authored by researchers and local Indigenous community members.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Rediscovering two species presumed gone for millennia shows that remote, biodiverse rainforests can still hold extraordinary surprises and that wildlife thought lost forever can persist against the odds. Scientists now believe other so-called Lazarus species may still be living undiscovered in the same rainforests, opening the door to further rediscoveries. The collaboration between scientists and Indigenous communities proved vital, highlighting how traditional ecological knowledge can directly support conservation science and lead to findings that formal research alone might miss. These discoveries also strengthen the case for protecting the remote and understudied rainforests of New Guinea, which clearly harbor far more biodiversity than previously recognized.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers plan to continue surveying the Bird’s Head Peninsula for additional Lazarus species, with the small forest wallaby named as a strong candidate for rediscovery. Ongoing collaboration with Indigenous Traditional Owners will remain central to future work in the region. Scientists emphasize that the area’s biodiversity is still far from fully understood, suggesting more discoveries are likely ahead.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Two marsupials thought extinct for 6,000 years found alive in Indonesian Papua
