Rediscovery of the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew after 46 years

IN a turn of events, conservationists are celebrating the rediscovery of the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), a mammal that has eluded researchers for 46 years.

- WEEKEND ARGUS REPORTER

The creature was observed on the edge of a pristine forest patch in CapeNature’s Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.

Originally described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, this unique subspecies is geographically isolated from its relatives in the Gouritz Valley. Its limited range and habitat disruptions resulting from forest loss and climate change have contributed to its Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List since 2016.

The momentous finding came during a survey conducted from May 3 to 6, a culmination of four strenuous attempts over four years. Dr Marienne de Villiers, an ecologist with CapeNature, expressed her joy at finally ticking this elusive mammal off her “biological bucket list”, likening the experience to encountering a unicorn -a mystical being she once thought was beyond reach.