Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo Rediscovered After Nearly 90 Years in Indonesia’s Remote Forests
Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo Rediscovered After Nearly 90 Years in Indonesia’s Remote Forests
Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo Rediscovered After Nearly 90 Years in Indonesia’s Remote Forests
One of the world’s rarest mammals, the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo, has been rediscovered in the remote montane forests of Papua, Indonesia, after being missing from scientific records for almost 90 years.
The elusive species was first described in 1928 but was not seen again for decades, leading many scientists to believe it had gone extinct. That assumption changed in 2018 when British naturalist Michael Smith successfully photographed a living Wondiwoi tree kangaroo during an expedition into the isolated Wondiwoi Mountains.
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The medium-sized marsupial is uniquely adapted to life in the trees, with strong forelimbs, powerful hind legs, and a long tail that helps it balance among dense forest canopies. Its rediscovery has been hailed as a major moment for conservation science, highlighting how little is still known about some of the planet’s most remote ecosystems.
Despite the excitement, conservationists warn that the species remains on the brink of extinction. Current estimates suggest fewer than 50 adult individuals may exist, confined to a very small geographic range. Hunting pressure and ongoing habitat loss pose serious threats to its survival.
Experts say the rediscovery underscores the urgent need for conservation measures in Papua’s highland forests. Protecting the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo could also help safeguard other rare species that share its fragile habitat, offering hope that even the most elusive animals can still be saved if action is taken in time.
Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo Rediscovered After Nearly 90 Years in Indonesia’s Remote Forests
