One of the Western Cape's most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani , has made a reappearance, 46 years after it was last recorded!
Conservationists from CapeNature, Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and Helihack, together with volunteer biologists, were ecstatic at finding one of these tiny mammals on the edge of a pristine forest patch in CapeNature's Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.
First described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, the shrew was recognised as a unique subspecies, geographically isolated from its relatives by the Gouritz Valley. Its limited known range, combined with forest habitat loss and climate change, led to it being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2016.
Armed with little more than Dippenaar's original field notes and habitat descriptions, the team embarked on their fourth attempt in four years to find the shrew. Dippenaar, now retired, wished the group luck and fondly referred to the species as a bit of a darling. The survey took place from 3-6 May, with the shrew found on 4 May.
Image: Supplied