Thought Extinct, an Amiable Rat Returns

The red-crested tree rat is described as "spectacular" as it poses for its first-ever photos, more than a century after it was last seen.

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Red Crested Tree Rat (Santamartamys rufodorsalis)

Photo By: Lizzie Noble / ProAves via American Bird Conservancy

Conservationists are abuzz about the first photos of an attractive — even cute — Colombian rat not seen since 1898. Conservationists are calling it "spectacular." The red-crested tree rat (Santamartamys rufodorsalis) is nocturnal, about the size of a guinea pig and has apparently been living under the noses of scientists at the El Dorado Nature Reserve. The creature "shuffled up the handrail near where we were sitting," posed for photographs, recounted Lizzie Noble, a volunteer at the reserve, and then returned to the forest "unperturbed by all the excitement he was causing."

Just don't tell the little guy the dubiously good news that his species has been upgraded from "extinct" to "critically endangered," or that his habitat is inundated with feral cats hungry for rodent meals.

The 2,000-acre park was founded in 2005 as a bird sanctuary and wildlife preserve by Fundación ProAves with help from the American Bird Conservancy. It's known as a destination for ecotourism, especially birders seeking to add rare and unique species to their life lists.

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