As of: February 17, 2024, 5:45 a.m
By: Sophie Kluß
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The Bavarian short-eared mouse, which was considered lost, is back.
62 years of absence turns a small rodent into big news.
A sensational find in Mittenwald, Bavaria, is causing a stir: an animal that was considered lost was rediscovered in the small town near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
It is one of the rarest mammals in the world - and was almost thought to be extinct.
As great as the excitement surrounding the discovery is, the animal itself is just as small: the rediscovered rodent is the Bavarian short-eared mouse (Microtus bavaricus).
Another animal, the Aldabra white-throated rail, even returned 18,000 years after its extinction.
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The Bavarian short-eared mouse had been missing since 1962
The rare Alpine mouse was last seen near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1962 and has now been rediscovered 62 years later.
Initially only recorded by wildlife cameras, the tiny rodent soon fell into one of the 70 live traps set up.
Prof. Dr. also helped with the search.
Claus König, the same scientist who discovered the mouse over 60 years ago.
Today König is 90 years old and is considered an expert on the animal.
Other little mice cleaning up a shed every night delight a pensioner.
After the spectacular recordings from the wildlife cameras, experts were able to convince themselves of the authenticity of the Bavarian short-eared mouse (Microtus bavaricus) thanks to the live trap.
According to the Bavarian State Office for the Environment, the find proves that the animals believed to be lost occur in the Free State.
© picture alliance/dpa/Bavarian State Office for the Environment |
David Silence
A spokesman for the Bavarian State Office for the Environment told
BILD
: “A sensational find!
The mouse may not be extremely important for the ecosystem right now.
But we are dealing with one of the rarest rodents in the world.”
Profile: Bavarian short-eared mouse (Microtus bavaricus)
According to the
Bavarian State Office for the Environment, the Bavarian short-eared mouse (
Microtus bavaricus
) is
“an extremely rare species of small vole with tiny eyes and very short ears hidden in the fur.” Larger protruding ears would make it difficult for it to dig.
It only grows to around nine to ten centimeters and reaches a flyweight of 18 to 28 grams.
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The
Bavarian State Office for the Environment
suspects humans are the cause of the disappearance of the short-eared mouse.
He “intruded too much into the cultural area of the mouse in the Alpine region.” You can find out more on
ARTE
on February 20, 2024 .
The documentary “The Bavarian Short-eared Mouse” will be shown there at 6:35 p.m.
Saving an Endangered Species” was broadcast.
You can also view these here.
Incidentally, the captured mouse was released a short time later - after it left the scientists with certain samples for DNA comparison.