? ?
WORLD / Africa
Lost forest in Africa yields new species
(agencies)
Updated: 2007-08-09 11:22
In a once-lost forest in Africa, six animal species new to science have
been discovered, members of a two-month expedition now reveal, including
a bat, a rodent, two shrews and two frogs.
A new species of bat discovered in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
is pictured in this undated handout photo. The new species was discovered
in an area off limits to scientists for decades because of violence,
according to the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society on August
7, 2007. [Reuters]
"If we can find six new species in such a short period, it makes you
wonder what else is out there," said Wildlife Conservation Society
researcher Andrew Plumptre.
The bat appears to be a kind of horseshoe bat (genus Rhinolophus), known
for the large horseshoe-shaped "nose leaves" used for directing their
ultrasound.
These new species were discovered in an expedition from January and March
2007 into woods just west of Lake Tanganyika, which have been off limits
to scientists for more than 50 years. The area is a remote corner of the
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been gripped by unrest
and war for decades.
Spirits linked with this area include Kabogo, said to occasionally
manifest itself as a ghostly boat on Lake Tanganyika at night said to
guarantee good fishing if seen, as well as Misotshi, who has taboos
against the killing of chimpanzees and the destruction of the forest. For
this reason, local chiefs suggested naming the area the Misotshi-Kabogo
Forest, the researchers said.
The scientists found that nearly 386 square miles (1,000 square
kilometers) of forest, almost the size of all of Hong Kong, remained
intact. The woods stretched from the shores of Lake Tanganyika up to
elevations of 8,940 feet (2,725 meters) above sea level, or roughly seven
times the height of the Empire State Building.
These woods have been isolated from much of the Congo rainforest, the
second largest rainforest in the world, for at least 10,000 years, which
explains why they held new species, said Wildlife Conservation Society
researcher Deo Kujirakwinja. They proved extraordinarily rich, providing
a home to chimpanzees, elephants, leopards, monkeys, birds, reptiles,
frogs and other amphibians, hogs, jackals, mongooses, porcupines, and
antelopes known as bongos.
The expedition collected additional material that may also yield a number
of new plant species. Local botanists were unable to identify some 10
percent of the collected plants. Plumptre, Kujirakwinja and their
colleagues will send these samples to specialists in the near future to
assess their novelty.
The Wildlife Conservation Society notes that chiefs and elders at local
villages are supportive of transforming the region into a protected park.
Currently, human impacts on these forests are relatively low, with gold
mining on a minor level being the most substantial threat.
Top World News ?
* Clinton extending lead over Obama: poll
* Roadside bombs kill 4 US troops in Iraq
* Georgia says it was bombed by Russian jets
* Bush says US, Pakistan to track al-Qaida
* Taliban warn of more kidnappings
Today's Top News ?
* China invites the world to 2008 Olympic gala party
* Income disparity getting worse: Report
* Govt pours $1b on drug, food safety
* Rain cripples New York City transit
* Two Koreas to hold summit this month
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese School, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment