Today’s Solutions: March 19, 2024

Have you ever heard of the mouse-sized elephant shrew? Neither had we, probably because it has been lost to science for 50 years.

The elephant shrew, also known as a Somali sengi, mates for life, can race around at 30km/h, and sucks up ants with its trunk-like nose. But it had not been documented by researchers since 1968. However, after receiving tips from people in Djibouti, Somalia’s neighboring country, scientists set out to find the animal in 2019. The team tapped into local knowledge, and the fact that the sengis need shelter from birds of prey, to set traps in likely locations, baiting them with a concoction of peanut butter, oatmeal, and yeast.

They caught a Somali sengi in the very first trap set in the dry, rocky, landscape, identifying it by the tuft of fur on its tail that distinguishes it from other sengi species. “It was amazing,” said Steven Heritage, a research scientist at Duke University in the US. “When we opened the first trap and saw the little tuft of hair on the tip of its tail, we just looked at one another and couldn’t believe it.”

The team was happy not to witness any looming threats to the sengi’s habitat, which is largely unsuitable for human activities such as development or agriculture, suggesting a secure future for the creature.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Redefining masculinity: influencers lead the charge against toxic narratives

In the enormous expanse of social media, figures such as Andrew Tate have gained prominence for propagating what some refer to as "toxic masculinity." ...

Read More

The surprising human-like intelligence of the humble bee

In the wonderful world of bumblebees, a stunning discovery calls into question the idea that intelligence is entirely determined by brain size. These tiny ...

Read More

Scottish forests are the biggest they’ve been in 900 years

Scotland is a proud and iconic country, with a unique culture and landscape. Travelers from all over the world come to visit Scotland’s highlands, ...

Read More

Could this invisible label revolutionize textile recycling?

It's no secret that garments are thrown out at an alarming rate due to fast fashion and the rapid-fire cycling of trends. Furthermore, we ...

Read More