Red-Crested Tree Rat seen for first time in 113 years
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The red-crested tree rat made a reappearance in a Colombian nature reserve
A red-crested tree rat, a rodent about the size of a guinea pig, has been sighted for the first time in decades.
Volunteers at the El Dorado Nature Reserve in the Sierra Nevada were overjoyed to receive an evening visit from the red-crested tree rat. The last recorded sighting was in 1898, when two of the critters were found and studied, and were the subsequent source of all information about the rat, until now.
Despite its miraculous appearance, the rat, also known as the red-crested soft-furred spiny-rat, seemed fairly relaxed about making history. Lizzie Noble, a volunteer from Britain, had been at the reserve for just a month when she witnessed the creature: “He just shuffled up the handrail near where we were sitting and seemed totally unperturbed by all the excitement he was causing. We are absolutely delighted to have rediscovered such a wonderful creature . . . Clearly the El Dorado Reserve has many more exciting discoveries waiting,” she said.
The red-crested tree rat is likely eligible for listing as critically endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “Red List of Threatened Species” criteria.
El Dorado Nature Reserve, Colombia
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113 years???? That is one old rat!!!! I thought my cat Scampi at 21 was old…113????….I will inform Her Majesty to telegram him immediately!…;-)
It is always reassuring to see that we were wrong about an extinct animal. Granted the range of the species is unknown and could be more expansive than we believe. But anytime such an animal seems to have a limited range is worry some for the future of the species. Chances are, it is an evolutionary dead end, but this cannot be known without further information. Would be sad if, after its rediscover it is determined to be a ‘zombie species’ (a species that has no chance for recovery, and yes, this is the correct terminology, because scientists love odd names)
Considering we haven’t seen this little beauty for over a 100 years makes you wonder about all the other critters that have been written off.
It is highly possible. Unfortunately if we are not aware of them, it is impossible to allocate extra resources and habitat to protect them. All the more reason it is vitally important to get as much data on any organism we come across.
Also, am I the only one who thinks the image of the rat looking into the camera is plotting our demise? He just looks like the scheming type.
Holte, why does it not surprise me that when everyone else is worried about the end of the world you would find something so cute and cuddly to write about. I always look to you to find something positive to think about amid all the clatter.
Thanks.
Thanks Bill, too much politics is poison to me, I have to regulate my intake.
It’s cute. We once had a mouse in the barn that was Indigo blue – absolutely beautiful.
The romantic in me says your barn mouse must have eaten a rainbow.