The Winton golden vole, which is classified as highly endangered, is threatened by, for example, diamond mining. The species has also been thought to have disappeared completely.
A sighting of the highly endangered golden vole has been made on the northwest coast of South Africa after almost 90 years. Told about it The Guardian last Thursday.
Winton’s golden vole (lat. cryptochloris wintoni) was last observed in 1937. The animal secretes fluids from its skin that make its fur shine. The slippery fur also enables the animal to dive nimbly in sand dunes.
On the pages of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Winton’s golden vole is classified as critically endangered. The species is threatened, for example, by changes in its habitat caused by diamond mining.
Winton’s golden mole was also listed of the international nature conservation organization Re:wild Among the 25 “wanted” species, thought to have disappeared until this year.
Researchers from the South African Nature Conservancy (EWT) and the University of Pretoria tracked the animal for two years with the help of a golden mole tracking dog. DNA samples were taken from each soil sample taken from the observation site.
In the end, the research team made an observation of two Winton’s golden voles. Because the species looks similar to other golden voles, the discovery was not confirmed until the DNA samples were sequenced.
21 different species of golden mole are known, most of which live in South Africa. The research team also found evidence of the presence of three other species. After research, several Winton’s golden vole populations have been found in the area.
The next goal is to concentrate conservation efforts and secure habitats for the species, says a former EWT field researcher to the Guardian.