10-11-2023 (JAKARTA) In a remarkable rediscovery, scientists have located a species of mammal known as Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, which was last recorded over 60 years ago. This elusive creature, with spines reminiscent of a hedgehog, a snout like an anteater, and feet resembling a mole, has been found in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains. The species is named after the renowned British naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, and was recently captured on camera during a four-week expedition led by researchers from Oxford University.
The remarkable moment occurred when biologist James Kempton, having descended from the mountains, came across images of the elusive mammal on the last memory card retrieved from over 80 remote cameras. The excitement was palpable as Kempton shared the discovery with his colleagues, stating, “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.” The rediscovery was achieved in collaboration with the Indonesian conservation group YAPPENDA.
Echidnas, which share their name with a Greek mythological creature, are described as shy, nocturnal burrow-dwellers, making them extremely challenging to locate. Kempton explained, “The reason it appears so unlike other mammals is because it is a member of the monotremes – an egg-laying group that separated from the rest of the mammal tree-of-life about 200 million years ago.”
This species had only been scientifically recorded once before, in 1961, by a Dutch botanist. In contrast, a different echidna species is found throughout Australia and lowland New Guinea.
The expedition led by Kempton’s team was filled with challenges, including surviving an earthquake, battling malaria, and even encountering a leech attached to an eyeball. Despite the difficulties, they persevered and collaborated with the local village Yongsu Sapari to explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua.
The echidna holds a special place in the local culture, and there is a tradition that involves resolving conflicts by sending one party into the forest to search for the mammal and another to the ocean to find a marlin. Both creatures are considered extremely difficult to find, often taking decades or a generation to locate. However, once found, they symbolize the end of the conflict and a return to harmonious relationships, according to Yongsu Sapari elders cited by the university.
