When was the last time you saw a Red-Crested Tree Rat?
Well, you probably have never seen one unless you are really old or maybe you have seen one & just had no idea what it was. If you go over to the news story titled Red-Crested Tree Rat Reappears at Wired you can see a picture of the little fella. I’m totally against stealing photos from other sites but, this one tempted me. I also couldn’t find a public video since I doubt anyone had a video cam in 1898. Yep, it has been 113 years since anyone has seen one of the guinea pig sized critters.
The animal was spotted by volunteers working at the El Dorado Nature Reserve in the Sierra Nevada. Can you imagine the excitement of the volunteers to not only see the Red Crested Tree Rat but to also get a picture. We all know that people would have likely not believed them without a photo.
I will step out on a limb and say that this animal is NOT 113 years old so apparently the little guys have been hidden and reproducing. I just hope that this discovery does not draw the wrong kind of attention. I read that there is very little documentation about the animals so, I am sure some researcher will want to try and catch one to study. I think they should do their best to leave the animals where they are and make sure they are protected. It seems they have survived for a long time without human intervention and as long as they have their habitat left in place, they will do fine.
Now be sure to go over and see the picture and get more info about the group that saw the animal and is also doing great things to try and save endangered species in Colombia.