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Giant Rat

All articles tagged with #giant rat

science2 years ago•2 min saved

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.

via CBS News|

#conservation #endangered-species #giant-rat

environment2 years ago•3 min saved

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.

via The New York Times|

#conservation #endangered-species #environment