Animals

Unbelievable Animal Comebacks: Can You Identify These Rediscovered Species?

Which bird, once thought extinct in 1941, was rediscovered in 1951?

Dodo

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Passenger Pigeon

Bali Starling

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, presumed extinct in the 1940s, was reportedly spotted again in the early 2000s, although this has been subject to debate. No substantial evidence has been found since 2005.

The Coelacanth, a fish thought to be extinct for 65 million years, was found where?

Amazon River

Coast of South Africa

Lake Baikal

Great Barrier Reef

The Coelacanth was rediscovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938, shocking the scientific community as it was believed to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs.

What type of animal is the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, which was rediscovered in 2001?

Bird

Insect

Reptile

Mammal

Known as the ‘tree lobster,’ the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect was found alive on Ball’s Pyramid, an oceanic rock formation, after being declared extinct in the 1920s.

The New Guinea Big-eared Bat was thought extinct since when before its 2012 rediscovery?

1890

1950

1937

1960

The New Guinea Big-eared Bat was rediscovered in 2012 after no recorded sightings since 1890, surprising conservationists and highlighting the region’s biodiversity.

Which amphibian was rediscovered in Ecuador in 2006, over a century after its last sighting?

Harlequin Frog

Darwin’s Frog

Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad

Golden Toad

The Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad was rediscovered in 2006 after it was feared extinct due to its last sighting being over a century ago, providing hope for other species in critical habitats.

The Fernandina Giant Tortoise, thought to be extinct since the early 1900s, was found in what year?

2010

2019

2005

2014

In 2019, a female Fernandina Giant Tortoise was discovered, sparking significant interest since this species was last documented over 100 years ago.

What animal, known as ‘the lost shark,’ was rediscovered off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2013?

Pondicherry Shark

Goblin Shark

Megamouth Shark

Whale Shark

The Pondicherry Shark, incredibly rare and thought to be extinct, was spotted in Sri Lankan waters in 2013 after decades of absence in observations.

The ‘Terror Skink’, thought extinct since the early 20th century, was rediscovered in which location?

Madagascar

New Caledonia

Solomon Islands

Seychelles

Rediscovered in 2003, the ‘Terror Skink’ is unique to New Caledonia and was thought extinct since prior records dated back to the early 20th century.

The Jackson’s Climbing Salamander was rediscovered in what country in 2017?

Mexico

Guatemala

Honduras

El Salvador

Thought to be extinct since its last sighting in the 1970s, Jackson’s Climbing Salamander was rediscovered in a Guatemalan forest reserve.

Which flower was rediscovered in Hawaii in 1991 after being presumed extinct since 1909?

Hibiscus

Kokia cookei

Silene

Snapdragon

Kokia cookei, a highly endangered plant, was rediscovered by a botanist in Hawaii, providing a critical opportunity for conservation and study of this rare species.

Which rodent was rediscovered in Vietnam in 2019?

Bramble Cay Melomys

Annandale’s Rat

Somali Elephant Shrew

Vietnam Mouse Deer

The Vietnam Mouse Deer, thought to have been extinct for nearly 30 years, was spotted again in 2019, highlighting the hidden biodiversity of the region’s forests.

What flower, missing for over 60 years, was rediscovered in Hawaii in 2020?

Hawaii Chaff Flower

Lanai Campanula

Hawaiian Hibiscus

Yellow-faced Bee

The Lanai Campanula, a plant last seen in the 1950s, was rediscovered in 2020 in a remote area of Hawaii, showcasing the resilience and rarity of Hawaiian flora.

Which primate was seen again in Indonesia after being lost since 1938?

Javan Slow Loris

Bornean Orangutan

Miller’s Grizzled Langur

Sumatran Rhinoceros

Miller’s Grizzled Langur, a rare primate, was rediscovered in 2012 in Borneo, not having been seen since before World War II, demonstrating the critical need for habitat protection.

The Wallace’s Giant Bee, the world’s largest bee, was rediscovered where?

Indonesian Archipelago

Amazon Rainforest

Australian Outback

African Savannah

Wallace’s Giant Bee, presumed extinct, was rediscovered in the Indonesian Archipelago in 2019, confirming its existence after decades of speculation and scant sightings.

Which aquatic creature, absent since 1993, was found again in a Thai river in 2020?

Pink Dolphin

Chao Phraya River Stingray

Giant Catfish

Siamese Crocodile

The Giant Catfish, not seen since 1993, was rediscovered in the Mekong River, pointing to improvements in water quality and conservation efforts in the region.

What mammal, missing since the 1920s, was spotted in Taiwan in 2013?

Formosan Clouded Leopard

Taiwanese Deer

Black Bear

Taiwan Tiger

The Formosan Clouded Leopard, thought to be extinct since the 1920s, was reportedly sighted in Taiwan in 2013, though these sightings remain unconfirmed, they have spurred increased conservation interest.

Which South American bird was rediscovered in Colombia in 2015 after nearly 70 years?

Bogota Sunangel

Santa Marta Parakeet

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest

Andean Condor

The Blue-bearded Helmetcrest, not documented since the 1940s, was rediscovered in Colombia’s mountains, reviving hopes for the conservation of this hummingbird species.

What insect, known for its unique singing, was found in New Zealand after 50 years?

Kakapo

Giant Weta

Cicada

Mahogany Stag Beetle

A unique species of Cicada, not heard since the 1960s, was rediscovered in 2014, filling the air with its distinctive song once more in New Zealand.

Which reptile, presumed extinct after a volcanic eruption, was found in the Caribbean in 2016?

Montserrat Iguana

Mountain Chicken Frog

Dominica Boa

Lesser Antillean Iguana

The Montserrat Iguana, believed wiped out by volcanic activity, was rediscovered in 2016, highlighting the resilience of wildlife even in devastated environments.

What plant was rediscovered in Madagascar in 2009, having been unseen since 1902?

Madagascar Orchid

Voanioala Gerardi

Traveller’s Palm

Suicide Palm

Voanioala Gerardi, a rare palm species not seen since 1902, was rediscovered in Madagascar, providing important genetic material for studying the evolution of plants.

Casual Conservationist?

Your rediscovery radar needs some fine-tuning!

Endangered Enthusiast

You’re on track with your lost species lore!

Extinction Expert

Your knowledge is as legendary as a Lazarus species!

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