First-ever Photograph of Rare Giant Rat, Capable of Chewing Through Coconuts, Captured

The ultra-rare Uromys vika, a giant rat twice the size of a common rat and known for chewing through coconuts, has been caught on camera for the first time. Found only on the island of Vangunu in the Solomon Islands, the species was first identified in 2017 and is considered critically endangered. The recent images captured by trap cameras show four different animals, with one male and the rest female. The discovery is significant as the Vangunu giant rat's habitat is rapidly declining due to logging, and if logging proceeds, it could lead to the species' extinction.