Lost for 6,000 years: ‘Extinct’ marsupials found alive in New Guinea forests | Technology News
3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Mar 6, 2026 07:44 PM IST In a discovery that has surprised scientists and wildlife experts, two marsupial species long believed to have vanished thousands of years ago have been found alive in the forests of New Guinea. The animals, previously known only through fossils discovered in Australia, were recently photographed and confirmed by researchers working with indigenous communities in Papua, Indonesia. The rediscovered species include a ring-tailed glider and a tiny pygmy long-fingered possum. For decades, scientists believed both animals had disappeared at least 6,000 years ago. Their unexpected reappearance provides new insights into the region’s wildlife and raises questions about how many species may remain hidden in remote regions. With help from local communities The breakthrough came after years of research and collaboration with the Indigenous communities who live in the Vogelkop Peninsula of Papua. They played an important role in guiding scientists through the dense forests where the species were finally spotted and photographed. Scientists had long suspected that the species might still exist somewhere in New Guinea. …
