Story perspectives

Extinct for 7,000 Years: Rare Possums Rediscovered in New Guinea

3/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Bishop Museum announced that scientists confirmed marsupial species—the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider—in New Guinea after being presumed extinct for over 7,000 years.
The discovery involved collaboration with Indigenous communities and citizen scientists.
Evidence includes ancient fossils, preserved specimens found in a university, and photographs by Carlos Bocos, a citizen scientist.
The rediscovery underscores the value of Indigenous knowledge in conservation and offers hope amid extinction concerns.

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Story summary

The Bishop Museum announced that scientists confirmed marsupial species—the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider—in New Guinea after being presumed extinct for over 7,000 years.
The discovery involved collaboration with Indigenous communities and citizen scientists.
Evidence includes ancient fossils, preserved specimens found in a university, and photographs by Carlos Bocos, a citizen scientist.
The rediscovery underscores the value of Indigenous knowledge in conservation and offers hope amid extinction concerns.