An extraordinary event surprised the scientific community and the inhabitants of the Vukovar region: the Return of the sljepoša underground rodent that had been believed to be extinct for decades. This little creature, a mole and without eyes and ears, he made his reappearance near Vučedolarousing great interest among scholars and environmentalists.
It all started with Dijana Molnar’s complaint, Vukovar’s resident, whose vegetable garden was devastated In a few days from a mysterious animal. He told how the animal ate potatoes and carrots and also gnawed the roots of my tomatoes and onions. This behavior has pushed a group of scientists a investigateleading to the surprising identification of the rodent.
After in -depth analyzes, the experts confirmed that it is Vojvodina Blind Mole-Rata species deemed extinct in Croatia from 1984. The research conducted in Vučedol have established that the local population is extremely limitedwith an estimated number of specimens between 30 and 50 individuals.
A secret inhabitant of the subsoil
The sljephošsses about most of his life digging underground tunnelswhere it accumulates provisions to feed. “This is the creature that inspired the cartoon scenes, where carrots are dragged underground while the farmers try to hold them back“The biologist Dušan Jelić explained.
Although its appearance may seem unattractive, this species has extraordinary characteristics. Some studies suggest that the sljepoš is one of the few animals known to, an aspect that has captured the attention of the scientific community.
Despite its propensity to destroy the crops, the sljepoš represents an essential part of the local ecosystem. His survival is threatened by the reduction of the habitat and by the genetic scarcity caused by infreeding. Scientists are already working on conservation strategies to protect this unique species and ensure that it does not disappear again.
The return of the sljepoš to Vučedol is not only a significant biological discovery, but also a warning on the importance of environmental protection. Protecting this small creature means preserve a piece of Croatian biodiversityavoiding that it is definitively canceled by natural history.
