Many New Species Found in New Guinea Jungle

Posted on February 6, 2006

The reports that scientists have discovered a "lost world" full of previously undiscovered animals and plants in an unexplored area of New Guinea.

Among the new species of birds, frogs, butterflies and palms discovered in the expedition through this pristine environment, untouched by man, was the spectacular Berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise. The scientists are the first outsiders to see it. They could only reach the remote mountainous area by helicopter, which they described it as akin to finding a "Garden of Eden".

Marsupials, including tree kangaroos, were among the many new and rare animals discovered in the unexplored forest.

The golden-mantled tree kangaroo is considered the most beautiful but also the rarest of the jungle-dwelling marsupials. There were also other marsupials, such as wallabies and mammals that have been hunted almost to extinction elsewhere. And a rare spiny anteater, the long beaked echidna, about which little is known, allowed itself to be picked up by hand.

The scientists said the animals were not afraid of humans

Dr Beehler said: "What was amazing was the lack of wariness of all the animals. In the wild, all species tend to be shy of humans, but that is learnt behaviour because they have encountered mankind. In Foja they did not appear to mind our presence at all."

The Independent Online says the unexplored area covers 300,000 hectares on the upper slopes of the Foja Mountains. Other aticles about the find can be found on latimes.com, MSNBC.com and CNN.

Update 2-7-06: A BBC article has photos and provides this summary of some of the new discoveries.

A new species of honeyeater, the first new bird species discovered on the island of New Guinea since 1939
The formerly unknown breeding grounds of a "lost" bird of paradise - the six-wired bird of paradise (Parotia berlepschi)
First photographs of the golden-fronted bowerbird displaying at its bower.
A new large mammal for Indonesia, the golden-mantled tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus)
More than 20 new species of frogs, including a tiny microhylid frog less than 14mm long
A series of previously undescribed plant species, including five new species of palms
A remarkable white-flowered rhododendron with flower about 15cm across
Four new butterfly species.

The BBC quotes the groups co-leader, Bruce Beehler, as saying, "It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth."

ANIMALS