Rare Species Rediscovered: De Winton’s Golden Mole Found Alive in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Researchers in South Africa have made an extraordinary discovery, finding a species of mole thought to be extinct after more than 80 years. The De Winton’s golden mole, known for its shimmering golden coat and unique ability to navigate sand dunes, was found alive on a beach in Port Nolloth on the west coast of South Africa. A team of researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the University of Pretoria made the exciting find.

The small, blind De Winton’s golden mole has remarkable hearing capabilities and feeds on insects underground. Its last sighting was back in 1936, leaving scientists to presume it had vanished forever. However, traces of tunnels were discovered in 2021 with the help of a sniffer dog, and a golden mole was eventually spotted. To confirm its identity as a De Winton’s golden mole amidst the 21 other species of golden moles, environmental DNA samples were obtained. In 2022, a matching DNA sample from a De Winton’s golden mole collected decades ago became available.

Last week, the team’s research and findings were published after undergoing a thorough peer review process. Samantha Mynhardt, one of the researchers, expressed their initial doubts and subsequent triumph: “We had high hopes, but we also had our hopes crushed by a few people. One De Winton’s expert told us, ‘You’re not going to find that mole. It’s extinct.'”

The search for the golden mole spanned three years, as the elusive creature was known to leave minimal evidence of its existence and could navigate the sand dunes as if swimming. Golden moles are native to sub-Saharan Africa, with the De Winton’s species specifically found in the Port Nolloth area.

Two De Winton’s golden moles have now been confirmed and photographed in Port Nolloth, and signs of other populations have been detected in the area. Esther Matthew, senior field officer with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, emphasized the challenges faced during the project: “It was a very exciting project with many challenges. Luckily we had a fantastic team full of enthusiasm and innovative ideas, which is exactly what you need when you have to survey up to 18 kilometers of dune habitat in a day.”

The De Winton’s golden mole was part of the “most wanted lost species” list compiled by the Re:wild conservation group. Other rediscoveries from the list include a salamander found in Guatemala in 2017, 42 years after its last sighting, and the Somali sengi, an elephant shrew, spotted in Djibouti in 2019 after no recorded sightings since 1968.

This remarkable rediscovery highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the need to protect endangered species. As scientists continue to explore the natural world, there is hope for the resurgence of other species once thought lost forever.