Lost world of fabulous creatures lies hidden in rainforest

Berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise, one of the treasures found by explorer Bruce Beehler. Picture / Reuters

LONDON - An astonishing mist-shrouded "lost world" of previously unknown animals and plants has been discovered high in the mountain rainforests of New Guinea.

The team of scientists who discovered it could reach the remote area only by helicopter. They described it as akin to finding a "Garden of Eden".

In a jungle campsite, surrounded by giant flowers and unknown plants, the researchers watched rare bowerbirds perform elaborate courtship rituals.

The surrounding forest was full of strange mammals, such as tree kangaroos and spiny ant-eaters, which appeared totally unafraid, suggesting no previous contact with humans.

Among the new species of birds, frogs, butterflies and palms discovered was the spectacular berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise. The scientists were the first outsiders to see it.

Bruce Beehler, of the American group Conservation International, who led the month-long expedition last November and December, said: "It is as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth. We found dozens, if not hundreds, of new species in what is probably the most pristine ecosystem in the whole Asian-Pacific region. There were so many new things it was almost overwhelming. And we have only scratched the surface of what is there."

The scientists hope to return this year.

The area, about 300,000ha, lies on the upper slopes of the Foja Mountains, in the easternmost and least explored province of western New Guinea, which is part of Indonesia.

The discoveries by the team from Conservation International and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences will enhance the island's reputation as one of the most biodiverse on Earth. The mountainous terrain has caused hundreds of distinct species to evolve, often specific to small areas.

The Foja Mountains, which reach heights of 2200m, have not been colonised by local tribes, which live closer to sea level. Game is abundant near their villages, so there is little incentive for hunters to penetrate up the slopes.

One previous scientific trip has been made to the uplands - the evolutionary biologist and ornithologist Jared Diamond visited 25 years ago - but last year's mission was the first full scientific expedition.

The first discovery made by the team, within hours of arrival, was of a bizarre, red-faced, wattled honey-eater that proved to be the first new species of bird discovered in New Guinea since 1939.

The scientists also found the rare golden-fronted bowerbird, first identified from skins in 1825. Although Dr Diamond located its homeland in 1981, the expedition was able to photograph the bird in its metre-high "maypole" dance grounds, which the males construct to attract mates.

Male bowerbirds, believed to be the most highly evolved of all birds, build large and extravagant nests.

The most remarkable find was a creature called berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise, named after the six spines on the top of its head. It had previously been identified only from the feathers of dead specimens.

Dr Beehler, an expert on birds of paradise, which live only in northern Australia and New Guinea, said: "It was exciting when two of these birds, a male and a female, which no one has seen alive before ... came into the camp."

The expedition also found more than 20 new species of frog, four new butterflies, five new species of palm and many other plants.

Tree kangaroos, which are endangered elsewhere in New Guinea, were numerous and the team found one species entirely new to the island. 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 learned behaviour because they have encountered mankind. In Foja they did not appear to mind our presence at all ... This proves there are still places to be discovered that man has not touched."


The explorer's account

By the time the clouds closed us off from the outside world, the helicopter had dropped three loads of people and gear on to the boggy clearing in the mountain forest. We were met with silence, but for the sound of birds, frogs and cicadas.

At this point we all were excited that we were all finally in this promised land - we had surmounted the many hurdles and had defied the odds and had made it into the Fojas.

Within minutes, each of the scientists was off in various corners of the bog. Later, several of the party mentioned their encounters with a weird bird with dangling orange wattles like a chicken. It was a species never seen by Western scientists. I had not imagined we would so quickly encounter such a find.

I had long given up thought of finding a new species. We all thought there might be great stuff in the Fojas, but thought it would be lesser discoveries - new populations, new subspecies, and the like. We were to encounter additional surprises - a "lost" bird of paradise long forgotten, plus new species of butterflies, plants, frogs and mammals.

These discoveries, and the lack of human presence in these mountains, told us one thing - this was an incredible biodiversity resource of global significance.

Moreover, this grand tract of mountain forest appears to be entirely free of the many impacts of civilisation. We found no trails, no signs of hunters, no huts, nothing.

How many places on Earth remain untrammelled by humankind? Not many.

Most would agree the area should be conserved and managed to preserve its wonderfully wild flavour. * Dr Bruce Beehler is vice-president of Conservation International's Melanesia Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and co-leader of the Foja Mountains expedition.

- Bruce Beehler


The discoveries

* Birds: The scientists discovered a new species - the red-faced, wattled honeyeater - and found the breeding grounds of Berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise.

* Mammals: Forty species of mammals were recorded, including a species which is new to Indonesia, the golden-mantled tree kangaroo.

* Plants: A total area of about one million hectares containing at least 550 plant species, many previously unknown, including five new species of palms and a so-far unidentified species of rhododendron.

* Butterflies: More than 150 different species of butterfly, including four completely new species.

* Frogs: The team identified 60 separate species, including 20 previously unknown to science.

- INDEPENDENT