9-year-old rat named ‘Sir Patrick Stewart’ wins Guinness record as oldest rodent cared for by humans

A Pacific pocket mouse named ‘Sir Patrick Stewart’ became the oldest living rat in human care at almost 10 years old.

‘Pat’, an endangered species rat may weigh as little as 7.5 grams (0.265 ounces) but its will to live is strong.

The rodent called the home of the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Alliance was nine years and 211 days old, making it almost two years older than the previous Guinness World Record holder in this category.

Pat was born on July 14, 2013 at the San Diego Zoo and is part of the breed reintroduction and conservation program.

“This recognition is very special to our team and has important implications for this species,” said Debra Shier, associate director of Restoration Ecology at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

A Pacific pocket mouse named ‘Sir Patrick Stewart’ has become the oldest living rat in human care at almost 10 years old

Pat may be a few years away from having the same name – the real Sir Patrick Stewart is 82 – but wildlife officials don’t let that stop them from celebrating.

Shier told a TV station in San Diego that her team has worked incredibly hard to keep Pat alive and healthy over the years.

“It’s a huge commitment but it’s incredibly rewarding,” she says.

“It’s a testament to the incredible dedication and care we as an organization give to each species, from the largest to the smallest,” continued Shier.

Pat was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records on Wednesday with a small ceremony.

Michael Empric, judge of the Guinness World Records, said: “Being able to congratulate Pat and verify that he’s aged is truly amazing.

According to Guinness, Pat’s date of birth was confirmed through numerous medical records and animal diaries.

Pat was born to two wild animals during the zoo’s first year of efforts to preserve the endangered species.

Pat is just a few years away from his name because Sir Patrick Stewart is actually 82 years old

Michael Empric, judge of the Guinness World Records, said: “Being able to congratulate Pat and verify that he’s aged is truly amazing.

Pat was born to two parents caught in the wild during the zoo’s first year of efforts to preserve the endangered species.

Shier says the little animal has never given birth to a litter but ‘still tries’ to this day.

“He paired 32 times with 23 different females and while he displayed good courtship behavior (sand baths, slow approaches and digging), the females were extremely aggressive,” says Shier. when paired with him.

The nine-year-old rat recently almost mate, but things don’t go as planned.

The wildlife expert explained: “He came closest to mating in his pair this year as a nine-year-old male and would have mate if the trial had not been stopped due to time limitations. two and a half hours.”

The Pacific kangaroo is the smallest rat in North America.

Shier said their population decline led to the program’s founding.

‘It’s a huge effort to preserve this species. They are very little known, they receive very little attention, but they can be very important to the functioning of the ecosystem,” Shier said.

“This recognition is very special to our team and has important implications for this species,” said Debra Shier, associate director of Restoration Ecology at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

This area in Southern California is a typical stomping ground for endangered animals

Animal species are responsible for dispersing plant seeds and encouraging plant growth in their habitat.

The nine-year-old rat is a far cry from the four to six years typical of animals living in captivity.

In the wild, animals usually live only two years.

Rats, although extremely small, play a huge role in their ecology.

The animals are responsible for dispersing the seeds of the plants and encouraging the growth of the plants in their habitat.

Last year, the San Diego Wildlife Alliance helped spawn 31 litters – 117 in total.

Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk