‘Lost World’ of wildlife found in Indonesia

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Expedition found 20 new species of frogs, photographed bird rituals

MSNBC staff and news service reports

Updated: 11:49 a.m. ET Feb. 7, 2006

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Describing it as the discovery of a “Lost World,” conservation groups and Indonesia on Tuesday said an expedition to one of Asia’s most isolated jungles had found several dozen new species of frogs, butterflies, flowers and birds.

“It’s as close to the Garden of Eden as you’re going to find on Earth,” Bruce Beehler, a Conservation International scientist who led the expedition, said in a statement.

“The first bird we saw at our camp was a new species,” he added. “Large mammals that have been hunted to near extinction elsewhere were here in abundance. We were able to simply pick up two Long-Beaked Echidnas, a primitive egg-laying mammal that is little known.”

The team of U.S., Indonesian and Australian scientists ventured into the Foja Mountains of Papua province last December. The remote area covers more than two million acres of old growth tropical forest.

“There was not a single trail, no sign of civilization, no sign of even local communities ever having been there,” said Beehler, adding that two headmen from the Kwerba and Papasena tribes, the customary landowners of the Foja Mountains, accompanied the expedition.

“They were as astounded as we were at how isolated it was,” he said from Washington, D.C. “As far as they knew, neither of their clans had ever been to the area.”

New bird, flower

Among the discoveries was a new species of the honeyeater bird. The first new bird discovered on New Guinea since 1939, it has a bright orange facepatch.

“Other discoveries included what may be the largest rhododendron flower on record — almost six inches across — along with more than 20 new frogs and four new butterflies,” Conservation International said.

The team captured the first photos of a male Berlepsch’s Six-Wired Bird of Paradise, named for the wiry strands that extend from its head in place of a crest.

“Amazed scientists watched as a male Berlepsch’s bird of paradise performed a mating dance for an attending female in the field camp,” Conservation International said. “This was the first time a live male of the species had been observed by Western scientists, and proved that the Foja Mountains was the species’ true home.”

The bird had been the focus of several earlier expeditions that failed to find its home.

Bachelor pad

The scientists also took the first photos of the Golden-fronted Bowerbird displaying its bachelor pad to females as part of a mating ritual. The pad, known as a bower, is a tower of twigs and other forest materials. The bowerbird was hanging up blue forest berries to attract females.

One of the most remarkable discoveries was the Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo, an arboreal jungle-dweller new for Indonesia and previously thought to have been hunted to near extinction.

The scientists also found a tiny microhylid frog less than a half inch long and five new species of palm.

The scientists visited in the wet season, which limited the numbers of flying insects. “Any expedition visiting in the dry season would probably discover many more butterflies,” he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11114156/

[Em&Ed 0]

Well, another piece of the world us humans can destroy.....

[almaty 19]

when can we start logging it? is there oil there? if not what is is it good for?

Edited February 7, 2006 by almaty2004

[irishgirl73 0]

give it a few days-we'll figure out how to destroy it somehow.

It is so sad but as soon as I read that article on cnn-the first thing that came to my mind was........"how will they destroy it?" sad

[rclouse 0]

Well, another piece of the world us humans can destroy.....

I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[almaty 19]

Well, another piece of the world us humans can destroy.....

I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

the best of the 4 movies....a classic line......

[Jasman0717 9]

Well, another piece of the world us humans can destroy.....

Ain't that the truth

[Satisfaction 1]

It is great to find them, I hope they'll be more. In Guyana where I come, and many parts in the world as well where they live, many species of frogs have already gone extincts. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change. It is very sad. The Amazanion rainforest a gigantic variety of flora and fauna, perhaps the largest in the world. A few recent projects have been implemented in Guyana to save some frogs from extinction, but it is impossible to control global warming for instance (let's not talk about the Kyoto Treaty which US has never signed).

[Satisfaction 1]

One of our beautiful bactracian specy . Beware, her colors are attractive but her poison can kill you.

[Sister Fracas 5]

And yet people still doubt Darwinian theories... sounds like another Galapagos to me