Nature's most wanted: a blind salamander, a tap-dancing spider. A long-beaked echidnaAttenborough's long-beaked echidna is the Earth's oldest living mammal. It lays eggs like a platypus, which hatch in a pouch, like a marsupial. They are native to New Guinea. named after David Attenborough. They are some of the most endangered animals on Earth and the hardest to find.

Scientists are scouring jungles and the ocean for lost species. They have found the world's largest bee, the silver-backed ChevrotainA fanged deer-like creature the size of a rabbit. In 2019, it was found in the forests of southern Vietnam. and the Fernandina Giant TortoiseLast seen in 1906, this Galapagos tortoise was rediscovered on Fernandina Island in 2019. . These so-called LazarusIn the bible, Jesus restores Lazarus to life, four days after his death. animals have not been seen for decades. 

Like the Hills' horseshoe bat, last recorded in 1981. When scientists recently found it in the Rwandan rainforest, they were delighted. "This elusive creature has been flying for forty years, unknown to humans, living this secret life," says biologist Winifred Frick.

Scientists argue these rare endemic species help them understand the broader ecosystem. Before we can bring it back from the brink, we need to know "the distribution of, and threats to, a species," says conservationist Barney Long.

He works on the Re:wildThe organisation was founded by actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio. Scientists have named a newly discovered beetle and a tree after him. project, coordinating the search for an estimated 2,200 species missing for ten years or more. He says these discoveries are "a powerful antidote to despair."

"A rediscovered species is still in danger of extinction," warns biologist Diogo Verissimo. Their habitats are still under threat. The UN says humans have altered 70% of land.

Other scientists like R Alexander Pyron argue that "extinction is part of evolution" and we should not try to save these doomed beasts.

The dodo died three hundred years ago, but its reputation lives on as the clueless bird destined for extinction. This is unfair, says avian palaeontologist Julian Hume. It was "perfectly adapted to its environment".

But humans introduced invasiveA non-native species that becomes overpopulated and damages its new environment. species like pigs, goats and rats. So scientists argue habitat conservation is essential.

The postponed UN conference will be held in China. Brian O'Donnell of the Campaign for Nature says: "there has never been this much support for conservation in history" and what we do next will affect life on Earth.

Yes: Rediscovered species show the resilience of nature, faced with the challenges of human activity and climate change. The dedication of researchers to these species can inspire all of us to do more.

No: It is probably too late for these endangered species. They may be exciting and comforting to find in the wild, but the main focus should be on protecting more of the world from human development.

Or... We don't really know. Science is about exploring the unknown and taking risks. These species may help us understand nature, climate change and biodiversity in ways we can not anticipate.