First-ever Photographs of Rare Giant Coconut-Cracking Rat in Solomon Islands

Researchers from the University of Melbourne and Solomon Islands National University, with the help of the local community, have captured the first-ever photos of the critically endangered Vangunu giant rat, also known as Uromys vika. The rat, which is at least twice the size of a common rat and can chew through coconuts, is one of the world's rarest rodents and is only found on the island of Vangunu in the Solomon Islands. The discovery is significant for conservation efforts and the local ecosystem, as logging has threatened the rat's habitat and the island's environment.