The solenodon is not extinct, yet, in the DR...
This particular thingy was most common to be spotted in the Artibonito (Massacre River) region. Due to the ongoing disforestation by Haitians that don't know any better way to cook, the habitat of this creature is under serious problems.
A joint effort funded in part by the EU and Canadian gov is looking to replant trees in the river's bank and immediate area. The DR has made great effort to help the green covers of our barren areas come alive again; planting of new trees and a gamut of local and introduced species is under way since 1997 with millions of trees per year.
Sadly enough, Haitians would eat anything that moves in the wild, even if it's known to be not edible... The Solenodon is not free from becoming part of the casual meal in those homes...
The DR owns some beautiful parks and reserves, where many endemic species make their home in the island. The most numerous are the birds...
Recent development close to those areas only makes them prone to abuse and exploitation by crooks. It's the same case wherever pristine jungle and forest exists in the world are linked by well traveled roads that miscreants can use to exploit them...
I can recall in the early 60's you could spot an endemic owl species that took to the skies in the twilight of the afternoon-night to start the hunting. It was a great sight in Santiago...
The same happened to the criollo pigs, which became statistics of the pork fever in the island...
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