Two marsupial species, thought extinct for 6,000 years, found alive in West Papua, New Guinea, thanks to Indigenous knowledge and scientific collaboration.

Two marsupial species, a ring-tailed glider and a pygmy long-fingered possum, thought extinct for about 6,000 years, have been rediscovered in remote forests of West Papua, New Guinea. Identified through photos, fieldwork, and genetic analysis, the animals were known only from fossils until now. The ring-tailed glider, revered locally as sacred, and the possum, with a uniquely long finger for extracting beetle larvae, were confirmed via collaboration with Indigenous communities. Scientists say the findings, published in the Records of the Australian Museum, highlight the region’s hidden biodiversity and the critical role of Indigenous knowledge in conservation. Both species face threats from logging and habitat loss, and their exact ranges remain unknown.