Mysterious' tiny critter may be new discovery
A mysterious pig-like animal has been spotted in Africa, and scientists believe it might be a new species.
Grace Wambui, a conservationist with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), spotted an elephant shrew she didn't recognize in the Boni-Dodori forest on the coast of northeastern Kenya.
Elephant shrews, also known as sengi, are elusive mammals in Africa that use their long snouts to scoop up insects. There are 17 known species of sengi, divided into two categories -- the giant sengi and the soft-furred sengi.
The ZSL and the Kenya Wildlife Service set up motion-sensor cameras and managed to snap a few shots of the little mammal.
"This is an important discovery. The whole team was very excited to capture pictures of this mammal," said Rajan Amin, a senior ZSL field conservation biologist.
The find is significant for conservationists trying to document biodiversity in the isolated region.
"Prior to our study, the biodiversity of the Boni-Dodori forests was poorly understood as a result of limited access due to security problems and poor infrastructure," said Sam Andanje of the Kenya Wildlife Service.