Imagine hiking a misty mountain slope and hearing whispers from local guides about an animal thought gone forever—then spotting it on camera. That’s exactly what happened in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains when researchers teamed up with Indigenous communities to find Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), a species not documented since 1961.
A Creature from Deep Time Reappears
Attenborough’s echidna is one of only a handful of egg-laying mammals (monotremes), with ancestors tracing back millions of years. Scientists feared it extinct after six decades without confirmed sightings. Yet Indigenous trackers had long noted “nose pokes”—signs where echidnas forage underground for insects. By respecting this local knowledge and placing camera traps in likely habitats, researchers captured clear images and even courtship behavior in 2023, proving the species persists and reproduces.
Why It Matters to You
Hope Amid Biodiversity Loss: In an era of alarming extinctions, finding a “lost” mammal underscores that some species endure in remote, understudied regions. It reminds us to protect wild places—there may be more surprises waiting.
Power of Indigenous Knowledge: This success story highlights that conservation must listen to local and Indigenous communities. Their observations guided scientists to the right spots, accelerating discovery and reducing wasted effort.
Ecosystem Health Ripple Effects: Echidnas help control soil-dwelling insect populations and aerate soil through digging. Protecting them supports broader forest health, which in turn regulates water cycles and stores carbon—benefits that reach beyond remote mountains to global climate stability.
How It Happened: A Collaborative Approach
Listening to Local Insights: Indigenous residents shared details on where echidna signs appeared—elevations, foraging areas, and seasonal patterns.
Strategic Camera-Trapping: Researchers deployed cameras at those locations, often in rugged terrain, and patiently waited for images. In 2023, cameras revealed multiple individuals, confirming not only survival but active breeding.
Follow-Up Actions: With proof of life, conservationists can work to map the population’s range, assess threats (habitat loss, hunting), and engage communities in habitat protection.
What’s Next: From Discovery to Protection
Surveys & Monitoring: Continued camera-trapping and field studies will estimate population size and distribution, crucial for assessing extinction risk.
Habitat Safeguards: Partnering with local stakeholders and authorities to secure key forest areas against deforestation or disturbance.
Community Involvement: Empowering Indigenous guardians to monitor echidna habitats and lead conservation initiatives, ensuring measures respect cultural practices.
Awareness & Funding: Sharing this uplifting news can attract support for broader conservation in New Guinea’s highlands, where many species remain understudied.
A Personal Takeaway
This rediscovery invites reflection: what other “lost” species might still roam hidden corners of our planet? It reminds each of us that protecting nature isn’t just academic—it’s about preserving wonder and the web of life that sustains us. Whether by supporting Indigenous-led conservation, backing habitat protection efforts, or simply spreading the story, everyone can play a part. After all, if a creature unseen for 60 years can reappear, there’s hope—and responsibility—to safeguard the wild world that remains.
Source & Further Reading:
Nature article: “Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna rediscovered by combining Indigenous knowledge with camera-trapping” (npj Biodiversity, 12 May 2025)