Besides Flossie, the oldest living cat, and Bobi, the oldest dog in the world ever recorded, there is also Pat. He is a mouse aged 9 years and 209 days. Pat has been named the oldest surviving rat in human care by the Guinness World Records.
This type of Pacific pocket mouse (Pacific pocket mouse) is the smallest rat species in North America. Don't be fooled by their small body, this type of rat has a big role in their ecosystem.
Pacific pocket rats are important for plant life, promoting growth and helping disperse seeds when they are busy digging in the soil.
Pat's name was inspired by veteran Hollywood actor Sir Patrick Stewart. Pat is a resident of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where he was born in 2013. The organization has been at the forefront of Pacific pocket rat conservation efforts in recent years.
This species was previously thought to be extinct. But in 1994, small populations of this rat species were rediscovered in Los Angeles to the southernmost border of San Diego County. There are now only three wild populations of the Pacific pocket rat. There are only a few mice left, so this species is still considered endangered.
The conservation program at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, founded 11 years ago. Researchers carefully study the genetics and behavior of mice to ensure that when the time comes, individual mice can be released back into the wild with all the skills they need to find food and avoid predators.
So far, the program has birthed a record 31 mice during the 2022 season. Therefore, it is a success for Pat to survive healthy to this age.
"This recognition is very special to our team, and important to the species," said Dr Debra Shier, who founded and still oversees the conservation program, quoted from IFL Science.
"This recognition is also a symbol of respect for species that many people don't know about because they are not megafauna, but are just as important for ecosystem functioning. These neglected species are often found in our own backyards, such as the Pacific pocket rat," he concluded.