The natural world still holds many surprises, and sometimes those surprises come in the form of animals believed to be gone forever.
Over time, explorers and scientists have rediscovered species that were once declared extinct, proving that nature can be more resilient than we expect.
These rediscoveries, often called “Lazarus species,” remind us how much there is left to learn about wildlife and highlight the importance of conservation in protecting animals that live on the edge of survival.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Some species remain critically endangered despite being rediscovered.
1. Coelacanth
When fishermen hauled up a strange blue fish off South Africa in 1938, scientists were stunned. The coelacanth had been known only from fossils dating back 360 million years, presumed extinct for 65 million years.
Museum curator Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer recognized the importance of this prehistoric creature with its lobed fins and primitive lungs. Today, two species survive in deep waters near the Comoro Islands and Indonesia, remaining virtually unchanged for millions of years.
2. Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
The ivory-billed woodpecker’s haunting call once echoed through ancient forests of the American South. By the mid-20th century, logging had destroyed its habitat, and the magnificent bird with its distinctive white bill was mourned as extinct.
Yet reports persisted. In 2004, a kayaker in Arkansas claimed a sighting, sparking renewed hope. Though controversy surrounds these reports, with some experts remaining skeptical, the possibility that this magnificent woodpecker still haunts remote swamplands captures our imagination and fuels ongoing searches.
3. Chacoan Peccary
Scientists knew the Chacoan peccary only from fossils until 1975, when living specimens were discovered roaming the dry Gran Chaco region of Paraguay. These pig-like creatures had supposedly vanished 10,000 years ago.
Local indigenous people, who called it tagua, had known of its existence all along. With bristly salt-and-pepper fur and a distinctive collar-like white band, these social animals travel in small groups. Their rediscovery highlights how remote areas can harbor species science had written off.
4. Takahē
The takahē’s brilliant blue and green plumage was thought lost forever by the 1930s. This flightless bird, roughly the size of a chicken but much more colorful, fell victim to introduced predators and habitat loss across New Zealand.
Everything changed in 1948 when physician Geoffrey Orbell rediscovered a small population in a remote Fiordland valley. The birds had survived undetected in isolated alpine meadows. Today, intensive conservation management has brought their numbers from fewer than 200 to over 400 individuals.
5. Night Parrot
Under cover of darkness, one of Australia’s most mysterious birds manages its secretive existence. The night parrot, with its mottled yellow-green plumage, was known only from scattered specimens and considered extinct for over a century.
Wildlife photographer John Young changed everything in 2013 when he captured definitive evidence of living birds. After 15 years of searching remote outback areas, his persistence paid off. This ground-dwelling nocturnal parrot remains extremely rare, inhabiting spinifex grasslands where few humans venture.
6. Fernandina Giant Tortoise
For over a century, the Fernandina Giant Tortoise was presumed extinct, with the last confirmed sighting in 1906. The volcanic island of Fernandina in the Galápagos archipelago seemed an unlikely place for such a large creature to hide.
Against all odds, in 2019, an expedition discovered a lone female hiding in vegetation. DNA tests confirmed she belonged to the lost species. Excitingly, recent tracks suggest other individuals might exist, bringing hope that this ancient reptile might yet recover from the brink.
7. Cuban Solenodon
Resembling an oversized shrew with a long, flexible snout, the Cuban solenodon delivers something unexpected: venom. One of the few venomous mammals, this nocturnal creature was believed extinct due to habitat destruction and predation by introduced species.
Biologists were thrilled when specimens were captured in 2003, confirming its survival. Dating back 76 million years, this living fossil injects toxins through grooves in its teeth. Despite its rediscovery, the Cuban solenodon remains critically endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals thought to exist.
8. New Guinea Singing Dog
Famed for its unique vocalization that sounds like a musical wail, the New Guinea singing dog was believed extinct in the wild for over 50 years. These golden-colored canines with fox-like features were known only in captivity, with fewer than 300 in zoos worldwide.
Remote camera traps in 2016 caught images of wild dogs in the New Guinea highlands. Genetic testing confirmed in 2020: these were indeed the legendary singing dogs. Their rediscovery offers hope for genetic diversity and understanding of dog domestication.
9. Galápagos Pink Iguana
Strikingly beautiful with its rosy hue, the Galápagos pink iguana remained unknown to science until 1986 and wasn’t recognized as a separate species until 2009. Living exclusively on the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, these iguanas had somehow escaped the notice of Charles Darwin and subsequent researchers.
Genetic studies revealed they diverged from other Galápagos iguanas about 5.7 million years ago. With fewer than 200 individuals remaining, they face threats from introduced predators and volcanic activity. Their late discovery highlights how even large, colorful animals can remain hidden.
10. Somali Elephant Shrew
Despite its name, the Somali elephant shrew is neither an elephant nor a shrew. This long-nosed mammal, roughly the size of a mouse, belongs to a unique family called sengis. Scientists hadn’t recorded a sighting since the 1970s, leading many to fear its extinction.
In 2020, researchers set traps baited with peanut butter in Djibouti and captured several healthy specimens. These tiny creatures use their trunk-like noses to sweep for insects and can run at speeds up to 30 km/h. Their rediscovery reminds us that even in well-explored regions, animals can escape human detection.
