Shimmering Mole Rediscovered Nearly 100 Years After It Was Presumed Extinct

Recently, scientists working in South Africa spotted something that stopped them in their tracks. For decades, many assumed this animal was extinct. It turns out, they were wrong.

De Winton’s golden mole, an extremely rare species of mole, may be more widespread than researchers once believed, according to a study recently published in Biodiversity and Conservation.

A rare animal that was thought to be extinct was unexpectedly found again by a dog.

The animal in question, a shimmering mole that swims through sand, was just rediscovered almost 100 years after wildlife experts said it had disappeared forever.

The species, called De Winton’s golden mole, was reportedly last seen in 1936 before being found again living on beaches on the northwest coast of South Africa.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)’s team along with experts from the University of Pretoria reportedly sampled soil in the area looking for mole DNA, before deploying a scent-detection border collie to sniff out the creatures.