INDVESTIME

Scientists have confirmed the rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, a species thought extinct for over six decades. The egg-laying mammal, named after Sir David Attenborough, was photographed in the Cyclops Mountains of Papua, Indonesia, during a 2023 expedition.

Using 73 motion-activated cameras and local Indigenous knowledge, researchers captured 110 images across 26 encounters—offering the first scientific proof of the species’ survival. The echidna, known for its spiny coat and ancient lineage dating back 200 million years, is one of only five surviving monotreme species on Earth.

The discovery, published in NPJ Biodiversity on May 12, 2025, is expected to boost conservation efforts in the region. Scientists hailed the find as a symbol of hope amid the global biodiversity crisis and a reminder of the untapped ecological richness in remote areas like Papua.