For decades, rumors have circulated about giant rats inhabiting the forests of the Solomon Islands, capable of cracking and eating coconuts. However, scientists have not been able to prove the existence of the giant rat species – until now. ChatGPT and Forefront helped us tell the story of the disturbing picture that confirmed the myth.
Last week, a study was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution confirming the existence of the giant rodents, named Vengono's giant rats, and even showing the first pictures of these animals during activity. These rats can reach up to 45cm in length – 2.5 times the size of common rats. Their tails are also large compared to those of other rats, but their ears are actually quite small.
The first time scientists took their existence seriously was in 2017, after an unusually large dead rat fell from a tree on the island, which is part of the Solomon Islands east of Papua New Guinea (i.e., northeast of Australia). A team from the University of Melbourne worked with the Zaira community, which manages Vengono's forests, to deploy cameras using sesame oil as bait (after trying peanut butter – but it actually attracted rats of a fairly common species). Between midnight and dawn, they photographed four rats with long tails and short ears, matching the descriptions of Vengono's giant rats.
Study leader Tyrone LaBrie, a lecturer in native vertebrate biology at the University of Melbourne, expressed enthusiasm for the positive news for this species, but stressed that the discovery was under threat. This is due to the fact that the government of the Solomon Islands has approved the deforestation of most of the forests inhabiting this species. The images will help appeal the decision, as deforestation will lead to the extinction of the newly discovered rare rats.
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