Long-tailed forest shrew spotted after 46 years
For the first time in 46 years, one of the Western Cape's most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), has made a reappearance, exciting conservationists and volunteer biologists.
Conservationists from CapeNature, Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and Helihack, together with volunteer biologists, are ecstatic at finding the tiny mammal on the edge of a pristine forest patch on CapeNature's Boosmansbos Wilderness Area in the Langeberg Mountains.
First described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, the shrew was recognised as a unique subspecies, geographically isolated from its relatives by the Gouritz Valley.
Its limited known range, combined with forest habitat loss and climate change, led to it being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2016.
Armed with little more than Dippenaar's original field notes and habitat descriptions, the team embarked on their fourth attempt in four years to find the shrew.
Dippenaar, now retired, wished the group luck and fondly referred to the species as 'a bit of a darling'.
The survey took place from May 3-6 , with the shrew found on May 4.
'At last, I can take this little shrew off my biological bucket list. It's been a bit like a unicorn for me – a mythical creature that I thought I would never get a chance to see in real life,' said Dr Marienne de Villiers, CapeNature ecologist.
'And it's really comforting to know that at least part of its population, in a least some of its forest habitat, is well-protected.'
A genetic sample of the shrew will now be analysed to clarify its relationship to lower-altitude relatives, while further research is needed to better understand its life history, behavioural ecology, and the status of its only known population.
Intensive surveys of other forest patches may yet reveal more about its distribution. But for now, it's enough to celebrate that the special shrew of Boosmansbos is still alive and well.
Cape Argus
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IOL News
14-05-2025
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Long-tailed forest shrew makes appearance for first time in 46-years
The Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew. Image Credit: Cliff Dorse Image: Cliff Dorse One of the Western Cape's most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), has made a reappearance, 46 years after it was last recorded. Conservationists from CapeNature, Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and Helihack, together with volunteer biologists, were ecstatic at finding one of these tiny mammals on the edge of a pristine forest patch on CapeNature's Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. First described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, the shrew was recognised as a unique subspecies, geographically isolated from its relatives by the Gouritz Valley. Its limited known range, combined with forest habitat loss and climate change, led to it being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2016. Armed with little more than Dippenaar's original field notes and habitat descriptions, the team embarked on their fourth attempt in four years to find the shrew. Dippenaar, now retired, wished the group luck and fondly referred to the species as 'a bit of a darling'. The survey took place from May 3-6, with the shrew found on May 4. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Dominique Coetzee and Makoma Mpekwane (CapeNature Conservation Officers, GVB), Dr Andrew Turner (CapeNature Restoration Ecologist), Dr Marienne de Villiers (CapeNature Faunal Ecologist), Cliff Dorse (biologist). Image: Supplied 'At last, I can take this little shrew off my biological bucket list. It's been a bit like a unicorn for me - a mythical creature that I thought I would never get a chance to see in real life,' said Dr Marienne de Villiers, CapeNature ecologist. 'And it's really comforting to know that at least part of its population, in at least some of its forest habitat, is well-protected.' Previous attempts to catch the elusive shrew using standard rodent live traps had been unsuccessful, and it was hoped that the new method would be more rewarding. But getting all the necessary gear up to the remote wilderness area, with no vehicle access, was a challenge. Fortunately for the team, Helihack came to the rescue. This initiative is focused on safeguarding the protected area from invasive alien pines, using helicopters to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. The team was airlifted to a wilderness campsite and then hiked down to set 76 pitfall traps across various habitats. Each trap was prepared with bedding, shelter, and the occasional earthworm to ensure humane treatment. At first, the traps yielded nothing, but one of the final traps revealed a small mammal with a 6 cm tail, unmistakably the long-lost Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew. Weighing just 13.7 grams, it was measured, photographed, and released unharmed into its forest habitat. 'This remarkable discovery was made possible by a group of enthusiastic, motivated, and skilled partners working together to achieve a range of biodiversity goals - from conducting surveys to managing invasive alien plants - all in an effort to keep the superb Boosmansbos in a healthy state for all to enjoy. 'A genetic sample of the shrew will now be analysed to clarify its relationship to lower-altitude relatives, while further research is needed to better understand its life history, behavioural ecology, and the status of its only known population,' Cape Nature said. Intensive surveys of other forest patches may yet reveal more about its distribution. Cape Times
IOL News
14-05-2025
- IOL News
Long-tailed forest shrew spotted after 46 years
For the first time in 46 years, one of the Western Cape's most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), has made a reappearance, exciting conservationists and volunteer biologists. Conservationists from CapeNature, Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and Helihack, together with volunteer biologists, are ecstatic at finding the tiny mammal on the edge of a pristine forest patch on CapeNature's Boosmansbos Wilderness Area in the Langeberg Mountains. First described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, the shrew was recognised as a unique subspecies, geographically isolated from its relatives by the Gouritz Valley. Its limited known range, combined with forest habitat loss and climate change, led to it being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2016. Armed with little more than Dippenaar's original field notes and habitat descriptions, the team embarked on their fourth attempt in four years to find the shrew. Dippenaar, now retired, wished the group luck and fondly referred to the species as 'a bit of a darling'. The survey took place from May 3-6 , with the shrew found on May 4. 'At last, I can take this little shrew off my biological bucket list. It's been a bit like a unicorn for me – a mythical creature that I thought I would never get a chance to see in real life,' said Dr Marienne de Villiers, CapeNature ecologist. 'And it's really comforting to know that at least part of its population, in a least some of its forest habitat, is well-protected.' A genetic sample of the shrew will now be analysed to clarify its relationship to lower-altitude relatives, while further research is needed to better understand its life history, behavioural ecology, and the status of its only known population. Intensive surveys of other forest patches may yet reveal more about its distribution. But for now, it's enough to celebrate that the special shrew of Boosmansbos is still alive and well. Cape Argus
IOL News
13-05-2025
- IOL News
Rediscovery of the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew after 46 years
The Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew. Image: Cliff Dorse In an exciting turn of events, conservationists are celebrating the rediscovery of the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), a fascinating mammal that has eluded researchers for 46 years. The tiny creature was observed on the edge of a pristine forest patch in CapeNature's Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, bringing joy and relief to ecology experts and volunteers alike. Originally described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, this unique subspecies is geographically isolated from its relatives in the Gouritz Valley. Its limited range and habitat disruptions resulting from forest loss and climate change have contributed to its Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List since 2016. The momentous finding came during a survey conducted from May 3 to 6, a culmination of four strenuous attempts over four years. Dr Marienne de Villiers, an ecologist with CapeNature, expressed her joy at finally ticking this elusive mammal off her 'biological bucket list', likening the experience to encountering a unicorn—a mystical being she once thought was beyond reach. 'And it's really comforting to know that at least part of its population, in at least some of its forest habitats, is well-protected,' she added. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading L to R: Dominique Coetzee and Makoma Mpekwane (CapeNature Conservation Officers, GVB), Dr Andrew Turner (CapeNature Restoration Ecologist), Dr Marienne de Villiers (CapeNature Faunal Ecologist), Cliff Dorse (biologist). Image: Supplied Previous efforts to capture the shrew using conventional live traps had yielded no success, leading the team to seek innovative methods for their final attempt. Transporting necessary equipment to the remote area with no vehicle access proved challenging. However, the Helihack initiative rescued the mission by using helicopters to transport the team and their gear to inaccessible portions of the wilderness. In collaboration with CapeNature, Helihack has made significant progress in mitigating threats to the World Heritage Site, specifically invasive alien pines that endanger its biodiversity. Upon being airlifted to a designated campsite, the dedicated team set out to establish 76 pitfall traps across varied habitats, meticulously preparing each with bedding, shelter, and the occasional earthworm to ensure humane treatment. Initially, the traps seemed cursed—yielding no initial captures—but perseverance paid off on May 4, when one of the final traps revealed a small mammal sporting a 6 cm tail, unmistakably identifiable as the long-lost Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew. Measuring a mere 13.7 grams, the creature was carefully weighed, photographed, and subsequently released unharmed back into its natural setting. This remarkable rediscovery exemplifies the collaborative spirit and commitment of a skilled network of conservationists, biologists, and volunteers, all devoted to enhancing the diversity and health of the Boosmansbos area. A genetic sample of the shrew will now undergo analysis to determine its relationship with lower-altitude relatives. Additionally, further research is crucial to understanding its life history, behavioural ecology, and the prevalence of its known population. Determined surveys of other forest patches may yet unveil more about this enchanting species. For now, however, there is much to celebrate—the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew is back, reminding us of the fragile beauty and astonishing resilience of our natural world.
