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Attenborough’s echidna rediscovered by combining Indigenous knowledge with camera-trapping

Abstract:
We confirm the ‘rediscovery’ of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), one of only five modern egg-laying mammals and, until now, one of the planet’s most enigmatic ‘lost species’. Unrecorded for 62 years, we present the first scientific evidence of its survival to the present day. We highlight the importance of combining local Indigenous knowledge with camera-trapping to making the rediscovery, and we also discuss follow-up conservation actions to safeguard this Critically Endangered species.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s44185-025-00086-6

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
GLAM
Department:
Museum of Natural History
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-3447-4242


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03k7szx23


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
npj Biodiversity More from this journal
Volume:
4
Issue:
1
Article number:
19
Publication date:
2025-05-12
Acceptance date:
2025-03-18
DOI:
EISSN:
2731-4243
Pmid:
40355643


Language:
English
Pubs id:
2124445
Local pid:
pubs:2124445
Deposit date:
2025-05-17
ARK identifier:

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