OUR DISCOVERIES

"Man gave names to all the animals, in the beginning, long time ago..."

So sang Bob Dylan in 1979.

But of course, it's not true. Most of the species on this planet have not yet been named. The majority of the undiscovered animals are tiny creatures, such as microscopic bacteria. But there are still a few elusive mammals and birds which have escaped the notice of scientists, and amphibians are being discovered at a surprising rate. The Papuan region has the highest proportion of Data Deficient frog species in the world: in 2008, 320 species were known from the region, but it is estimated that there could be more than 600 species.

Here is a brief summary of the surveys:

Nakanai Mountains, New Britain, April 2009
This site was chosen because the area had been proposed for World Heritage Status, but there was inadequate biological data. It was therefore a conservation priority. The four-week survey was highly successful in showing the richness of the biodiversity.

Mt Michael, Eastern Highlands, July 2009
Mt Michael was the site of the first of a series of intensive, two-week surveys closely involving the local community. It was chosen because of the apparent quality of the forest, the lack of biological data, its comparative accessibility and the proven commitment of the owning, Christian clans, to protecting the land.

Muller Range, Southern Highlands, September 2009
This area was chosen because of the lack of basic biological information about its flora and fauna. The four-week survey documented over 1,300 plant and animal species, of which at least 90 are potentially new to science. Sightings of Doria's Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus dorianus, many possums and numerous signs of long-beaked echidnas indicate that there are healthy populations of the larger mammals in the area.

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