Legends find their only way to realization on cinema screens, whereas in reality, they simply remain stories passed down through generations. However, a few days ago, scientists from the University of Melbourne managed to confirm the legend of the Solomon Islands rats that had been heard of but never seen.
For many years, scientists only heard about a type of rat of considerable size that inhabits the ancient forests of the Solomon Islands, yet they never managed even a glimpse of it, leading them to believe these giant rats were nothing more than a “myth” told by the island inhabitants.
Thanks to the indigenous people of the island, the scientists were finally able to capture the first images of the world’s largest and rarest rats, known as “vika.” These vika live in the trees of the Solomon Islands’ forests, a country located in the south of the Pacific Ocean comprising over 990 islands.
The photographs indicate that the giant rat lives in the “Zaira” forests, which represent the last remaining habitat for this species.
For years, the dense environmental expanses of Zaira forest revealed no hide nor hair of this species, and scientists only managed to discover black rats.
In 2017, when a giant tree was cut down, the carcass of an unknown, gigantic rodent species was found, sparking the search for live images of the vika. This was the first new rodent species from the Solomon Islands discovered in more than 80 years.
Composite image of four snapshots taken by the research team of vika rats as they emerge in the evening to forage for food. (Journal of Ecology and Evolution)
According to the study published in the journal “Ecology and Evolution,” vikas can weigh about a kilogram and are roughly the length of a newborn baby. They live among the trees and only come out in the evening.
According to the research team’s press release, capturing images of the giant vika for the first time is highly positive news for these previously unknown species. The researchers believe they captured at least four individuals in their shots, including a male and two females.
Despite the recent identification of vika, scientists are concerned about the risk posed by the same trees preferred by commercial logging companies where the vikas like to live. Furthermore, in November 2022, the government of the Solomon Islands granted permission to cut down these trees.
The study warns that if the Solomon Islands government continues to allow logging in this forest, it will directly contradict its commitments related to the United Nations’ biodiversity, which aims to prevent the extinction of endangered species.
Illustrative map of the Solomon Islands, specifically the location of the Vangunu Islands inhabited by vika rats (Journal of Ecology and Evolution)
In an email interview with “Al Jazeera Net,” Tyrone Lavery, the research team leader and a lecturer in native vertebrate biology at the University of Melbourne, states that vika plays a crucial role in distributing fruit and seeds in the forests to aid plant germination and maintain forest health, making it vitally important for conserving the forests’ biodiversity.
However, the trend towards cutting down the forests where vika lives represents an ecological disaster that must be addressed. Tyrone clarifies that the research team is making efforts to “support the Zaira community on Vangunu Island, where only the vika lives, as Zaira has the last remaining area of the island’s primary forest.”
Tyrone reveals that the “Zaira inhabitants” are resisting logging and mining on their tribal lands. This resistance protects the last habitat of the vika. Nonetheless, efforts by logging companies to undermine this protection mean that Zaira needs our support to help preserve its forest as it is.
Maria Taliuotu, a Zaira resident collaborating with the research team, explains, “The logging process in Vangunu Island has destroyed the entire area. I believe this is the only remaining place to ensure the vika’s continued survival.”
He points out, “No more food remains in those areas, which means the vika will be the first of the living creatures to leave the island, which is incredibly sad.”
