© NGHWDFNew Guinea Highland Wild Dog
After decades of fearing that the
New Guinea highland wild dog had gone extinct in its native habitat, researchers have finally confirmed the existence of a healthy, viable population, hidden in one of the most remote and inhospitable regions on Earth.
According to DNA analysis, these are the most ancient and primitive canids in existence, and a recent expedition to New Guinea's remote central mountain spine has resulted in more than 100 photographs of at least 15 wild individuals, including males, females, and pups, thriving in isolation and far from human contact.
"The discovery and confirmation of the highland wild dog for the first time in over half a century is not only exciting, but an incredible opportunity for science,"
says the group behind the discovery, the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation (NGHWDF). "The 2016 Expedition was able to locate, observe, gather documentation and biological samples, and confirm through DNA testing that at least some specimens still exist and thrive in the highlands of New Guinea."
© NGHWDFWild dog sightings.
Comment: For more about the widespread decline of farmland birds across Europe, see: The Vanishing: Europe's farmland birds down 55% in the last 3 decades