Global News - April 2008
< Back to Global News
Very rare rat rediscovered in the Philippines
Mon 28 April 2008 14:00 UK — Asia,Other
A very rare species of rat has been rediscovered by scientists, over a century after it was last seen in the Philippines.
The local Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that a team of American and Filipino biologists found the dwarf cloud rat in the mountainous northern region of the country.
While the specimen that was discovered was dead, the findings offers hope that the species could still exist in the region. The last time the rat was formally seen was over 112 years ago by British scientists.
Lawrence Heaney, team leader and curator at the Chicago-based Field Museum of Natural History, explained to the paper: "It is the animal whose existence had baffled biologists for so many years.
"The Philippines may have the greatest concentration of unique biological diversity, relative to its size, of any country in the world."
Danilo Balete, a research associate, is reported to have added that the specimen was found in the tree canopy near Mount Pulag.
Mr Heaney concluded: "Now that we know where to look for them, it will be possible to learn more."
Help IAR rescue and rehabilitate endangered wildlife.
News brought to you by International Animal Rescue, leaders in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.
< Back to Global News |
Read IAR News
Read IAR News >
|
June 2008
Update on IAR’s work in Indonesia
As well as macaques and slow lorises, our team in Indonesia has ended the suffering of a number of endangered Javan gibbons living in misery in a centre known as Cikananga. June 2008
IAR speaks out against the Great British Circus scandal
International Animal Rescue is urging people to stay away from the Great British Circus during its visit to Tonbridge because it uses a variety of animals in its acts, including lions, tigers, camels and zebras. |
