Two animals believed extinct for 6,000 years rediscovered in remote location

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Scientists have rediscovered two incredibly small animal species in the remote forests of Indonesia, animals that were previously thought to have died out thousands of years ago.

Scientists have rediscovered the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider, confirming they still exist in the wild. These species have managed to survive in remote rainforest areas, even though they haven’t been officially documented by researchers for about 6,000 years.

According to The Guardian, scientists have rediscovered the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider – two rare and hard-to-find marsupials – in the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua.

Animals thought to be extinct discovered

For a long time, these animals were known only from fossils found in the area, leading scientists to think they were extinct. But recent fieldwork and photographs have proven they still exist!

I’m totally fascinated by the pygmy long-fingered possum! It’s this incredibly small marsupial, and what’s really cool is its long fingers – it uses them to feel around tree bark for tasty insects. Honestly, it’s pretty rare to spot one because they’re active at night and live deep within the rainforest.

Recently, scientists rediscovered two animals in Papua New Guinea that were previously thought to be extinct for thousands of years: the Pygmy Long-fingered Possum and the Ring-tailed Glider. This gives hope that the elusive Dobsegna, another lost species, may still be found.

— Hugo (@lowlandsapien) March 5, 2026

I’m absolutely fascinated by the ring-tailed glider! It’s this tiny, adorable marsupial that basically flies between trees using a flap of skin between its legs. It’s so cool! Because they live way up in the trees, though, they’re really hard to spot – you’d have to be a seriously dedicated wildlife watcher to catch a glimpse of one.

Even with the amazing things we’ve already found, West Papua is still a remarkably unexplored part of the world, with huge areas of rainforest that scientists are only beginning to study.

So, there could be more species waiting to be found in the future.

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2026-03-06 16:48