The Rediscovery of a Shy, Sand-Swimming Creature

Sometimes animals aren't extinct - they're just really good at hiding. This turns out to be true for De Winton's golden mole, a creature that hadn't been seen for 87 years.

A Most Wanted Missing Species

The De Winton's golden mole was placed on the most wanted list of missing species after going undocumented since 1936. Many scientists feared these tiny creatures had disappeared forever.

What makes these moles special? They're completely blind and use their pointed noses to literally swim through beach sand. Despite their adorable, shiny appearance, they're extremely shy creatures that rarely come above ground.

A Border Collie Named Jesse Makes the Discovery

Hope for finding the elusive mole came when a scent detection dog named Jesse picked up traces of the animal in South Africa. Jesse, a border collie working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, detected something promising during their search efforts.

But finding the mole wasn't so simple. Since there are 21 different species of golden mole, the researchers couldn't immediately confirm which type Jesse had found.

DNA Confirms the Amazing Find

The breakthrough came through environmental DNA testing. The team collected the DNA Jesse had found and determined it belonged to a golden mole species with no prior DNA record.

Around the same time, another research team published a DNA analysis of a De Winton's specimen from a nearby museum. When the teams compared notes, they confirmed the DNA Jesse found matched the De Winton's golden mole.

Protecting a Timid Treasure

Researchers have now captured photos and videos of this previously missing mole in South Africa. This remarkable rediscovery provides more than just proof of existence - it offers hope for conservation.

With confirmed DNA samples, scientists can now train more scent dogs specifically to find De Winton's golden moles. This will help them identify and protect the habitats where these shy creatures live.

The rediscovery shows that sometimes animals aren't gone forever - they're just masters of staying hidden. Thanks to dedicated researchers and one talented border collie, a species once thought lost has been found again.