The woolly flying squirrel and South Island takahe are two wondrous animals thought to have been ... [+]
Of the estimated 9 million species of plants and animals on Earth, at least 15,000 (and probably many more) are facing the threat of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature counts over 850 extinct species since it first started keeping track.
It therefore comes as welcome news when a species presumed to be extinct is rediscovered in the wild. Here are two such examples.
1. Western Woolly Flying Squirrel (Presumed Extinct For 70 Years, Rediscovered In 1994)
Despite its impressive size, this rare species of squirrel can glide over distances of up to 100 ... [+]
The western woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus) is an exceptionally large flying squirrel–measuring up to four feet in length–native to the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan and northwestern India.
Believed to be extinct by the early 20th century, scientists relied on a handful of preserved skins and specimens from the late 1800s as the sole remnant of the lost species. However, research led by Peter Zahler in the 1990s confirmed its continued existence in the Kashmir region of Pakistan.
The story of how Zahler rediscovered the species is as impressive as the rediscovery itself. He first went looking for the lost species in 1992, using traditional trapping methods. Two months of trapping–attempting to lure the lost squirrel in with tasty foods such as almonds, honey and grain–turned up nothing. He returned to the states with no better inkling that the giant flying squirrel still existed than when he started.
A return trip to Pakistan in 1994 yielded similar results–until the very end. With time winding down, Zahler’s colleague stumbled upon a remarkable clue. A disembodied front paw, presumably belonging to the lost squirrel, was found atop a cliff–most likely the leftovers of a meal by one of the squirrel’s predators, perhaps an Eagle Owl. Days later, the team came across a pair of local men who told them they could produce a squirrel. These men were also hunting the squirrel, but for a different purpose. They collected the squirrels’ urine and sold it in local markets, as it was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Less than a day later, the men returned with a live female squirrel in a sack. Zahler and his team paid the men a finder’s fee and the mystery was solved.
2. South Island Takahē (Presumed Extinct For 50 Years, Rediscovered In 1948)
The color of female and male adult tahake is mainly blue-purple with a greenish tint on their backs.
The South Island takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is a non-flying bird native to New Zealand. It holds the distinction of being the largest extant member of the rail family.
Historically, the takahē faced significant hunting pressures from both Maori and early European settlers–as is often the case with flightless island birds (the dodo bird being the classic example and the white gallinule of Lord Howe Island being another).
After its presumed extinction in 1898 following the capture of the last known bird, the species was rediscovered in 1948 by the New Zealand doctor and expert tramper, Geoffrey Orbell, in a remote valley nestled within the Murchison Mountains of the South Island.
Orbell's fascination with the takahē began in his youth, spurring him to research the subject extensively. Convinced that remnants of the species might still exist, particularly in the Murchison Mountains near Lake Te Anau, he embarked on an expedition in April 1948 with companions Rex Watson and Neil McCrostie. There, Orbell encountered unfamiliar bird calls and stumbled upon tracks indicative of the takahē's presence, reinforcing his belief that it still might exist. Returning to the area with additional support later that year, Orbell's persistence paid off when he rediscovered the elusive birds on November 20, 1948. In recognition of his contribution, a lake near the search site was subsequently named Lake Orbell.
Today, conservation efforts play a crucial role in managing and preserving the species. As of 2023, the South Island takahē population stands at approximately 500 individuals.
