By Sheetal Kumari | March 4, 2025
Many species face extinction, but conservation efforts have rediscovered eight “lost” species since 2017, offering hope for wildlife preservation. Images courtesy of Guinness World Records.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
Rediscovered in 2019 after nearly 40 years, Megachile pluto is the world’s largest bee, found in Indonesia’s North Moluccas by scientists.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
Seen in 2017 after 42 years, Bolitoglossa jacksoni, also called the “golden wonder,” was spotted by a park guard in Guatemala’s Yal Unin Yul Witz Reserve.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
This rabbit-sized “deer-mouse,” Tragulus versicolor, was rediscovered in Vietnam’s Annamese Mountains in 2019, with two more populations found since.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
Rediscovered in Djibouti in 2020 after 51 years, Elephantulus revoilii was captured on camera for the first time by researchers.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
A tortoise found in 2019 was genetically matched to Chelonoidis phantasticus, a species previously documented only once in 1906.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
Unseen since 1955, Afrithelphusa leonensis is a colourful freshwater crab rediscovered in 2021 with the help of local communities.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
After failed attempts, scientists rediscovered Furcifer voeltzkowi in Madagascar in 2018, confirming its survival with 18 specimens.
(Image: guinnessworldrecords)
First documented in 1918, Nepenthes mollis was rediscovered in 2019 deep in the Bornean wilderness by botanists.
(Image: Wikipedia)