Lazarus Marsupials Rediscovered in New Guinea

0:00On March 5th, here's the latest out of Sydney. Scientists have discovered two marsupials long thought extinct in the remote rainforest of West Papua's Vogelkopf Peninsula. The pygmy long finger possum and the ring-tailed glider were previously known only from fossils dating back thousands of years. These Lazarus species, named after the Biblical figure brought back to life, mark a big win for biodiversity and new guinea. A few years ago, a local villager showed mammal experts a strange possum with an extra long middle finger on each hand. Recent sightings near villages confirmed its identity as the pygmy long finger possum. Meanwhile, photos of the ring-tailed glider matched old fossils with help from West Papua on Elders who share traditional knowledge. Locals in the Tambora and Maybrad areas call the glider 2's 1 and consider its sacred, linking it to their creation stories and old-grow forests. Scientists like Tim Flannery praised the teamwork between researchers and indigenous people.

1:02Experts outside the study called it a joyous find amid mostly bad environmental news. The possum sports black and white strides on its head and uses its oversized finger for foraging. The glider, a smaller cousin to Australia's greater glider, leaves between trees, eats leaves and sap, and nests and hollows. Both add to our understanding of how marsupials evolved in the Australasian region after ancient play collisions. Researchers are now pushing for more studies on their habitats and protection status. Exact locations they secrets prevent poaching, as logging has already wiped them out in some spots. Conservation funding remains a challenge worldwide. This DNN story comes to you thanks to our sponsor, a pillow that plays your sound quietly, comfortably, effortlessly, effortlessly.