200 New Species Discovered In Remote Papua New Guinea

200 New Species Discovered
In Remote Papua New Guinea

A spectacular array of more than 200 new species has been discovered in the Pacific Islands of Papua New Guinea, including a white-tailed mouse and a tiny, long-snouted frog.

The survey of remote New Britain Island and the Southern Highlands ranges, accessible only by a combination of small plane, dinghy, helicopter and foot, found an exciting range of new mammals, amphibians, insects and plants.

People have heard of birds of paradise and tree-climbing kangaroos, but when you look even closer at the small things you just realise that there's a staggering diversity out there that we really know nothing about.

Papua New Guinea's jungles are one of just three wild rainforest areas, along with the Amazon and the Congo basin, left in the world, and as such comprise a vast "storehouse" of biodiversity, with scores of new species.

Scientists have indicated that only half of the things documented actually have names.

The rugged, mountainous and largely inaccessible terrain meant biologists had not even been able to enter some regions and there were large areas of New Guinea that are pretty much unexplored biologically.

Genetic testing used to prove new species such as the mouse which confirmed that it was not related to any known creature.

There is little doubt that these kinds of discoveries are certainly good news story amongst all the gloom, particularly when one considers the creeping extinction of other creatures.

THE 16TH ANNUAL DEADLY AWARDS

THE 16TH ANNUAL DEADLY AWARDS

The Deadly Awards are held each year in Australia to celebrate Indigenous achievements in entertainment, music, sport and the community.

One big winner in the 2010 awards was the film 'Bran Nue Dae' which was named Film of the Year. The music from this most entertaining film (which my dear family, friends and I have seen and enjoyed immensely) has been proudly featured on our Flagship Station: Pacific Islands Radio - along with the music of the talented Archie Roach whose sixth studio album: '1988' was awarded - Album Release of the Year!

Please check out our Oceania Web sites: http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_aboriginal_music/index1.htm for more information about Archie Roach;
along with our Pacific Islands Radio Web site to enjoy the enchanting and beautiful music from 'Bran Nue Dae':
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm

It is certainly pleasing to see that more than 29,000 votes were cast for the 2010 awards and that the importance of these awards are now being recognised, to a much greater extent, by the mainstream community.

Perhaps more importantly, these important awards deliver a strong and healthy message to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community - that, hopefully, will provide inspiration to all Indigenous Australians and, in particular, to young Indigenous Australians across the country.

Our very sincere Congratulations to all the successful artists! Well done!