In a remarkable turn of events, a species once believed to be extinct has been rediscovered. The De Winton’s golden mole, last seen in 1937, has been spotted again in South Africa’s sand dunes.
Researchers, who had been searching extensively for this elusive creature, finally found it in the Port Nolloth area, where the golden mole resides in sandy environments, creating unique burrows. Their search involved analyzing over 100 sand samples for environmental DNA (eDNA)—genetic traces left behind by the animal.
“We were optimistic that we could detect De Winton’s golden mole if it was still in the environment by finding and sequencing its DNA,” explained Samantha Mynhardt, a conservation geneticist with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Stellenbosch University.
The golden mole had only been known from a small region, making it challenging to distinguish from other golden mole species. After identifying fresh tracks, a specially trained sniffer dog was deployed to differentiate between common golden moles and the rarer De Winton’s. The dog’s lack of reaction to the tracks suggested the presence of the rare species.
The eDNA tests initially revealed the DNA of common golden moles and another unknown set. The breakthrough came when a DNA sample from a De Winton’s specimen at the Iziko South African Museum matched the unknown DNA, confirming the mole’s identity.
Since the rediscovery, four additional populations of De Winton’s golden mole have been found. Cobus Theron, senior conservation manager for EWT, expressed his optimism: “Despite skepticism, I always believed De Winton’s golden mole was out there. It was just a matter of using the right methods and having a dedicated team.”
Interestingly, golden moles aren’t true moles. Despite their mole-like appearance, they are more closely related to otter shrews and tenrecs due to evolutionary convergence.
