Comments on: Foja Mountains’ “Lost World” Mammals

By: jodzilla

jodzilla — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:52:58 +0000

Everything about this is so cool. It’s good to know that not everything is known. It gives us good cause to keep looking.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:55:52 +0000

Hello,
I don’t post often but wanted to clarify a few things, since West Papua is in my neck of the woods.

East Timor is the eastern part of the island of Timor and is now an independent nation. It used to be a Portuguese colony until Indonesia illegally invaded and occupied East Timor back in the 70’s. In 1999 Indonesia was pressured by the international community, to allow the East Timorese to hold a referendum on independence. They overwhelmingly voted for independence and shortly thereafter there was violence etc. A UN peacekeeping force led by Australian troops was sent there to keep the peace and protect East Timor’s newly found independence.

The East Timorese are mainly Christian whereas the majority of Indonesia is Muslim.

The western part of the island of Timor (known as West Timor) is an Indonesian province.

The new species discovered as detailed in this article, were discovered in West Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya). West Papua is the western part of the island of Guinea. Once again the Indonesia annexed West Papua once the Dutch colonial regime relinquished its control. The local people are Melanesian and Christian. They were promised a referendum on independence when the Dutch left however this never happened. There is a very strong independence movement in West Papua. They never were and do not want remain with Indonesia. Its an ongoing low level conflict.

The eastern part of the island of Guinea is the independent country of Papua New Guinea. They were once an Australian colony but gained independence in the 60’s or 70’s.

All these islands (as well as Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra etc) were once heavily, and to some extent still forested, however the rainforests are being decimated by logging and land clearing. Its a real shame as these are areas of huge biodiversity and help absorb carbon dioxide.

I hope to visit Malaysian Borneo next year before all the rainforests are cut down.

Apologies for the history lesson and a big hello to Mystery Man!

By: Pvolitans

Pvolitans — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:25:35 +0000

Richard888 I think you must be referring to the Laotian Rock Rat. It’s in Rodentia but not exactly a rat. Great find nonetheless. =)

By: Richard888

Richard888 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:23:27 +0000

About the enormous rat. Is it the same species as the one discovered in a food market somewhere in Asia a couple of years ago? Does anyone remember that cryptozoological fact? As I recall, the other one also had a silver grey fur.

By: DARHOP

DARHOP — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:05:45 +0000

Man, now that is one big rat!

By: red_pill_junkie

red_pill_junkie — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:26:18 +0000

that Ornate Fruit-Dove is beautiful. Almost too beautiful… hopefully they species won’t suffer from the pressures of the pet industry always craving for new exotic animals.

By: sschaper

sschaper — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:28:12 +0000

East Timor is a small island in the Spice Islands, off Australia, where the Muslims have been invading, slaughtering the Christians. For a time there were UN peacekeepers there, IIRC.

New Guinea is a -big- island, rivaling Britain, and is split between Australia and Indonesia.

By: sschaper

sschaper — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:26:01 +0000

The Giant Rat of Sumatra!

By: Ceroill

Ceroill — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:30:52 +0000

I saw the segment and I agree. It was well done. There was one species of Bird of Paradise that I had read about before, that hadn’t been seen in over a hundred years, since it was first described. The one thing that slightly confused me was the geographic names. I thought (last I knew anyway) that the Indonesian part of New Guinea was called East Timor. Anyone know when that changed?

By: squatch-toba

squatch-toba — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:30:33 +0000

This is a great bit Loren! It shows that new types of creatures can and are found in remote places around the earth if the right people look for them long enough. To find all these new critters in a place as small as New Guinea (462000 sq.km.) brings to light the possibility of unknown creatures roaming North America! My home province of Manitoba alone is almost 650000 sq. kms. in size. Four fifths of that area is forested, not to mention the rest of the continent and it’s wilderness! You just have to keep looking in your own backyard, you might be surprised at what will turn up!