Golden mole, presumed extinct, rediscovered after 87 years New attempt to form a government with right-wing populists in the Netherlands

The De Winton’s golden mole rat has silky, glittering fur, is blind, digs like a mole – and has been considered extinct for 87 years. Researchers from South Africa have now been able to prove that this is not true.

As they have now announced, they came across traces of The Wintons’ gold waste on beaches around the small port town of Port Nolloth.

Golden mole rats are similar in structure to moles and, like them, spend most of their time underground. There are about 21 different species – the extremely shy De Winton’s golden mole is known for “swimming” on the beach, leaving no trace as the sand quickly covers its burrows. This makes the search for him extremely difficult. According to researchers, the last time he was seen was in 1936.

The team from the South African non-governmental organization Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the University of Pretoria has been researching the small animal since 2021. Every day they searched “up to 18 kilometers of habitat buried in the dunes,” Esther Matthew of the EWT told the AFP news agency.

At least two copies

Using around a hundred DNA samples from the environment – ​​skin cells, fur hair or body secretions – they provided evidence that at least two specimens of De Winton’s gold molehill still exist. A sniffer dog then sniffed through the animals’ tunnels, Matthew said. “It was like a crime thriller.” Ultimately, the researchers were able to capture the cute specimens using video and a still camera.

Now, “now that we know the little golden molehill still exists, we know we can still save it,” said animal rights activist Devin Murphy. His NGO Re:Wild has made it his mission to search for long-missing species. (sda/afp)