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As researchers have observed, the De Winton’s golden mole is an elusive species that has previously only been found in one region, namely Port Nolloth off the northwestern coast of South Africa. These animals are blind, have golden pelts and spend most of their time underground. Their habitat causes difficulty in locating them, as their extremely sensitive hearing allows them to sense vibrations from humans approaching on the surface, and the tunnels left behind disappear without a trace.
The species has not officially been seen in the wild since 1936, and it was not known whether it was still in existence or completely extinct, which earned it a spot on the most wanted list of Re:wild, a program to find animals whose status is unknown.
