WORLD WORLDWIDE INTERNATIONAL - Wildlife - re:wild - Call it a comeback (actually three!) 🟢

 

Found only in the forests of Mexico’s Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, these adorable little rabbits are the latest rediscovery as part of Re:wild’s Search for Lost Species. A rediscovery 120 years in the making 🐰 In 2019, an expedition team set out near Chilpancingo to find the Omiltemi Cottontail Rabbit, last recorded there in 1904. After searching the local forests without success, they shifted their focus to higher elevation areas. They interviewed locals who, to the expedition team’s surprise, recognized the rabbit and shared their knowledge about it. Omiltemi Cottontail Rabbits have smaller ears and short black tails, unlike other cottontails with fluffy white tails (footage of the Omiltemi Cottontail Rabbit provided by José Alberto Almazán-Catalán). With this valuable information, the team set up cameras and was able to capture footage of the elusive rabbit in the wild — the first documentation in more than 120 years. Scientists hope to work with local communities to protect the Omiltemi Cottontail Rabbit and ensure this species is never lost to science again! The Omiltemi Cottontail Rabbit is one of the most wanted lost species in Re:wild's Search for Lost Species, which is supported by the Colossal Foundation. Read more More epic comebacks reigniting hope 👏 Sombrero Ground Lizards were once Critically Endangered, battling threats from invasive species, mining that destroyed their habitats, and damaging hurricanes. Re:wild and its partners have worked to reverse this decline. By restoring the island's ecosystem, removing invasive species, and planting native species that make the area more resilient to severe weather, the population has grown from less than 100 in 2018 to more than 1,600 today. “This is a remarkable turnaround for this cheeky and charismatic lizard," said Jenny Daltry, caribbean alliance director, Fauna & Flora and Re:wild, who co-led surveys to account for the lizards. "But while we celebrate this recovery, we recognize that there is much more to be done to secure their future and that of other Caribbean wildlife." Discover more about their remarkable recovery story. Meanwhile, on nearly the other side of the world in the Pacific Ocean, Endangered Polynesian Storm-petrels have returned to Kamaka Island, French Polynesia, after more than a century. This was the result of an ambitious restoration project that used drones to eliminate invasive species, solar-powered sound systems to broadcast seabird calls, and custom-built burrows to encourage nesting. Six seabird species are now confirmed on the island, with two other species likely. This project is part of the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge founded by Island Conservation, Re:wild, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which aims to restore 40 globally significant island-ocean ecosystems by 2030. Learn more about the restoration success. Know a friend who might be interested? If you know someone who would enjoy our content, feel free to forward this email their way! They can easily sign up and start enjoying our updates as well.

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