CAPE TOWN, South Africa — 
Researchers in South Africa say they have rediscovered a species of mole with an iridescent golden coat and the ability to almost “swim” through sand dunes after it hadn’t been seen for more than 80 years and was thought to be extinct.
The De Winton’s golden mole — a small, blind burrower with “super-hearing powers” that eats insects — was found to be still alive on a beach in Port Nolloth on the west coast of South Africa by a team of researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the University of Pretoria.
It had been lost to science since 1936, the researchers said.
With the help of a sniffer dog, the team found traces of tunnels and discovered a golden mole in 2021. But because there are 21 species of golden moles and some look very similar, the team needed more to be certain that it was a De Winton’s.
They took environmental DNA samples — the DNA animals leave behind in skin cells, hair and bodily excretions — but had to wait until 2022 before a De Winton’s DNA sample from decades ago was made available by a South African museum to compare. The DNA sequences were a match.
The team’s research and findings were peer reviewed and published last week.
“We had high hopes, but we also had our hopes crushed by a few people,” one of the researchers, Samantha Mynhardt, told The Associated Press. “One De Winton’s expert told us, ‘You’re not going to find that mole. It’s extinct.'”
The process took three years from the researchers’ first trip to the west coast of South Africa to start searching for the mole, which was known to rarely leave signs of its tunnels and almost “swim” under the sand dunes, the researchers said. Golden moles are native to sub-Saharan Africa and the De Winton’s had only ever been found in the Port Nolloth area.
Two De Winton’s golden moles have now been confirmed and photographed in Port Nolloth, Mynhardt said, while the research team has found signs of other populations in the area since 2021.
“It was a very exciting project with many challenges,” said Esther Matthew, senior field officer with the Endangered Wildlife Trust. “Luckily we had a fantastic team full of enthusiasm and innovative ideas, which is exactly what you need when you have to survey up to 18 kilometers of dune habitat in a day.”
The De Winton’s golden mole was on a “most wanted lost species” list compiled by the Re:wild conservation group.
Others on the list that have been rediscovered include a salamander that was found in Guatemala in 2017, 42 years after its last sighting, and an elephant shrew called the Somali sengi seen in Djibouti in 2019, its first recorded sighting since 1968.

O Brasil convidou Angola para país observador do G20, organização que reúne as maiores economias do mundo.
Em comunicado, o Ministério das Relações Exteriores do Brasil recordou que, historicamente, as Presidências do G-20 convidam países não-membros do grupo, e Organizações Internacionais, para participar das reuniões do seu calendário de eventos.
Para além de Angola, a Presidência brasileira convidou Portugal, Egipto, Emirados Árabes Unido, Espanha, Nigéria, Noruega e Singapura.
O Brasil convida também o Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento, Banco Mundial, Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre o Comércio e Desenvolvimento, Cooperação Andina de Fomento, Fundo Monetário Internacional, Novo Banco de Desenvolvimento, ONU, UNESCO, FAO, OIT, OMS e a Organização Mundial do Comércio.
De referir que, o Brasil é Coordenador do Grupo formado pelos países mais desenvolvidos + a União Europeia e também a União Africana.

Urban lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the aesthetics and safety of cities. However, traditional lighting systems are often energy-intensive and lack flexibility.
The emergence of smart systems has revolutionised urban lighting, offering innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency and safety.
In today’s world, energy conservation and sustainability are critical concerns. With the increasing urbanisation, cities consume a significant amount of energy. Traditional lighting systems, such as high-intensity discharge lamps, are not only energy-intensive but also contribute to light pollution. This inefficient use of energy has economic, environmental, and health implications.
Smart lighting systems, on the other hand, utilise LED technology and advanced control systems to offer numerous advantages over traditional lighting.
With the latest trends in innovation and technology, Salvi Lighting, a global leader in public lighting and “SMART CITY” solutions, announces the launch of its Nigerian subsidiary, Salvi Lighting Nigeria Limited.
The event unfolded on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at The George Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, showcasing Salvi Lighting’s commitment to revolutionising urban spaces through innovative lighting solutions.
Salvi Lighting, a stalwart in the international lighting industry, is renowned for its expertise in creating sustainable and cutting-edge lighting systems.
The Spanish conglomerate, SALVI LIGHTING BARCELONA, envisions a well-lit, smart nation powered by solar energy, aligning with the global shift towards renewable and sustainable solutions.
The launch event, themed ‘Powering Nigeria’s Economic Growth: Smart Lights for Safety and Nigeria’s Development,’ brought together key stakeholders from the power, energy, and construction sectors, as well as public and private entities. Salvi Lighting Nigeria presented its ambitious vision and value proposition, as well as highlighted past successes across other countries, including Rwanda, Spain, Cameroon, and Kenya.
During the press conference, Olatunji Adebayo, the CEO of Salvi Lighting Nigeria Limited, passionately expressed the company’s dedication to lighting up Nigeria. He emphasised the positive impact of consistent lighting on productivity, the beautification of the environment, and enhanced security. Related News
Read also: Institute trains Nigerians on solar inverter installation, alternative energy solutions
Adebayo also outlined the significant job opportunities the project would bring, with plans to establish regional warehouses and offices across Nigeria. ‘‘Our core philosophy revolves around empowering each partner country to develop localised intelligent public lighting solutions by establishing factories to meet local demand.
Beyond creating numerous employment opportunities in Nigeria, our primary aspiration is to actively contribute to the nation’s growth in alignment with the development and economic objectives of the Nigerian government,’’ he added.
With funding from the Spanish Government, Salvi Lighting Nigeria is set to occupy a proposed 10-hectare site, offering employment opportunities for 500 to 1,000 Nigerians.
Salvi Lighting Barcelona, the parent company with a rich history spanning over 100 years, has a proven track record of success in outdoor lighting across various countries.
Javier Elizalde, CEO of Salvi Lighting Barcelona, highlighted the durability of the products, emphasising that Salvi Lighting Nigeria’s range boasts a remarkable 10-year lifespan for street and outdoor lighting systems.
Elizalde, excited about this new venture, sees it as a significant step towards strengthening the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Spain.
The launch event witnessed the presence of key figures, including Joana Adebayo, Executive Director of Salvi Lighting Nigeria; Tomas Fernandez Garcia, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Spain in Nigeria; Etienne Marechal, international business development and intermediation expert; Asiwaju Olumide Osunsino, Chairman of Megamound; Tayo Babalakin; Ken Ife, Chief Economic Strategist, ECOWAS, & global economic consultant; Felix Morka, Group Head of Corporate Banking, Zenith Bank Plc; members of the executive team at Zenith Bank HQ; and other esteemed stakeholders.
Salvi Lighting Nigeria is poised to redefine urban living in Nigeria, bringing forth a brighter and smarter future through sustainable lighting solutions. It is not just a brand; it is a commitment to innovation, quality, and design that converges to bring forth the brilliance of last-generation lighting products.