WONG:
A rare amphibian has been found in eastern India. This is the first time that the reptile-like creature has been spotted for almost 150 years. Let’s take a look.
STORY:
Caecilians were last seen at Rangliot Valley in Sikkim in 1881. After almost 150 years, the rare amphibian has been found again on Makaibari Tea Estate near Kurseong town.
[Rajan Banerjee, Makaibari Tea Estate Owner]:
“There was a professor who has devoted his whole life to the pursuit of caecilians because it apparently disappeared from the Earth 150 years ago. He came here two months ago before the monsoon started. He tried to find it. Shortly after he left, it started raining and they were popping out over the place.”
Banerjee says he has found four caecilians and is taking care of them.
Experts and students from Delhi University are now visiting the hills to learn more about the creature. Researchers believe the species is common in the country’s Darjeeling-Sikkim region.
[Robin Siyush, Delhi University Student]:
“This is endemic to this Sikkim-Darjeeling area. Because this creature has been found here, we can say that the ecosystem has been preserved for this animal.”
For now, Siyush plans to gather more samples and take up further study on caecilians.
Duration : 0:1:36
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