Untamed Rivers of New Britain Expedition 2006Nakanai Mountains, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea

The Untamed Rivers of New Britain Expedition 2006

A British Caving Expedition to the Nakanai Mountains in East New Britain

Produced and edited by Dave Clucas

Compiled by David W. Gill

© Dave Clucas & David W Gill

2nd edition

Printed 2012

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, Cali-fornia, 94041, USA.

Acknowledgements

Graphics

Dave Clucas, Dave Nixon

Image credits

Front Cover: Mageni Cave Resurgence: Robbie ShoneRear Cover: Ora Doline: Dave Clucas

Published by Dave Clucas8815 Jalan Acorus98000 MiriSarawakMalaysiahttp://daveclucas.com

citation: Gill, D W. 2012 Untamed Rivers of New Britain Expedition 2006. Dave Clucas, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. 58pp.

Contents

Introduction 1Objectives 1Team members 2National Geographic Photographic Team 2Referees 2The Exploration Project 3Establishing a base 3Exploration of Ora River Cave 6Phantom Pot 14Prospecting the plateau 17The Ora Resurgence 17Challenger Pot 18Pulse Pot 18Triosaurus Pot 18Exploration of Mageni 19Appendix 1 21Equipment list 21Surveying 22Appendix 2 23Expedition Budget 25Appendix 5 26The Conservation Project 26Notes on the state of conservation 26Criteria: 28Nakanai 28Telefomin /Hindenberg 28Assurances of authenticity or integrity 30Comparison with other similar properties 30Muller Plateau 30Assurances of authenticity or integrity 31Comparison with other similar properties 31Telefomin and the Hindenburg Wall 31Assurances of authenticity or integrity 32Comparison with other similar properties 32Bibliography 32Proposed Nakanai Mountains Conservation Area 33Boundary proposal. 33The eastern boundary 33Species Lists 33References 34The Mammals of the Nakanai Mountains. 34The Bats 34The Cloven-Hoofed Ungulates 36The Marsupials 36The Rodents 36The Lizards 42Selected References. 43

1

Introduction1984-1985 saw the first British expedition to New Britain when the Nare Cave, Nakanai Mountains, East New Britain was explored to a final conclusion. (Gill 1988). The Untamed River Expedition made a number of important discoveries including the upstream Nare river cave of Pavie and the splendid Gamvo Cave. Twenty years later a chance conversation with Stephen Alverez, a photographer for the National Geographic Society USA led to another expedition and a photographic shoot for the Society.

The Nakanai Mountains is a karst primary rainforest area of over 3000 square kilometres which is under threat from logging. A small group of interested parties grouped together in order to protect this biodiversity rich area from destruction and to protect the world’s greatest river caves. It was hoped that this expedition and the high profile National Geographic Magazine article to follow, would go some way towards achieving this goal. This report is in two parts. Part one covers the exploration activities and part two Appendix 5 covers our work on the conservation project.

ObjectivesThe expedition had two main objectives, which included both exploration and conservation. The primary objective was the exploration and mapping of the mega-doline of Ora and its asso-ciated underground river, the last recorded Nakanai doline with a large river to remain unexplored. Three previous expeditions to this very remote area (1972-73

Australian, 1980 French, 1984-85 British) all failed to explore the white water downstream river to a conclusion, only pro-gressing about 150 metres.

The secondary long term objec-tive was to work towards the establishment of the Nakanai Mountains Conservation Area, eventually to propose the area for World Heritage status. The expedition’s involvement con-

sisted of meetings with the relevant government depart-ments (at provincial and local level); NGOs; local village head men; villagers; logging company management, and the collecting of relevant information on the state of conservation. Prof Elery Hamilton-Smith from Australia joined us in Rabaul for negotia-tions with the Provincial Gov-ernment officials.

IND

ON

ES

IA

S O L O M O N I S L A N D S

A U S T R A L I A

Port Moresby

Kavieng

Rabaul

Kimbe

Lae

Wewak

Madang

Wabag

Mendi

Mt. HagenGoroka

Kundiawa

Kerema

Vanimo

Daru

Arawa

Popondetta

Alotau

Esa'ala

Kulumadau

Lorengau

W E S T S E P I K E A S T S E P I K

W E S T E R N

G U L F

C E N T R A L

M A D A N G

M A N U S

WESTERN HIGHLANDS

W E S T N E WB R I T A I N

E A S T N E WB R I T A I N

M I L N E B A Y

N E W I R E L A N D

B O U G A I N V I L L E

M O R O B E

ENGA

CHIMBUSOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

NATIONAL CAPITAL

EASTERNHIGHLANDS

Aitape

AmanabMaprik

Bogia

Okapa

Marawaka

Tari

Ambunti

Kikori

Balimo

Tufi

Finschhafen

Kandrian

Hoskins

Pomio

Kokopo

Namatanai

MoreheadWeam

Kupiano

Angoram

TelefominTalasea

Gloucester

Ewase Milim

PangunaBuin

Kwikila

Lumi

Koroba

KabwumNadzab

Kokoda

Kiunga

Manus

NewIreland

NewBritain Bougainville

Choiseul

SantaYsabel

Woodlark

Pocklington Reef

D'Entrecasteaux Islands

Louisiade Archipelago

B i smarckArch ipe lago

Taskul

Karkar

Long

Kiwai

Umboi

Mussau

Tabar

Lihir

Buka

Guadalcanal

GoodenoughFergusson

Normanby

Misima

TagulaRossel

Tabar IslandsTabar Islands

St. Matthias Group

WituIslands

TrobriandIslands

TangaIslands

FeniIslands

AdmiraltyIslands

PelelunIslands

HermitIslands

NewGeorgia Group

ChambriLakes

LakeMurray

Fly

Stric

klan

d

Sepik

Ramu

Coral Sea

Bismarck Sea

PACIFIC OCEAN

Solomon SeaGulf

ofPapua

HuonGulf

Torres Strait

tiartSnehcsoG

International boundary

Province boundary

Main road

National Capital

Province Capital

Town, village

Airport

Reef

PAPUANEW GUINEA

0

0

100 200 250 km

50 100 150 mi

50 150

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptanceby the United Nations.

Map No. 4104 UNITED NATIONSApril 1999

Department of Public InformationCartographic Section

12°

9°

6°

3° 3°

6°

9°

12°

0°0°0°

141° 144° 147° 150° 153° 156° 159°

144° 147° 150° 153° 156° 159°

PAPUANEW

GUINEA

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to 24th March, 2006, and was supported by the National Geo-graphic Society, the Royal Geo-graphical Society and the Ghar Parau Foundation to which we extend our thanks.

1 David W Gill. UK, Leader2 Andrew James Eavis. UK,

Reconnaissance, one week only.3 Robbie Shone. UK, Equip-ment and Photography4 David Nixon. UK, Equip-ment5 Jean-Paul Sounier. France. Equipment6 David Clucas. UK, Publicity, web page and meteorology7 Tom Chapman. UK, Food and Camp equipment8 Prof. Herbert Laeger. USA9 James Alker. UK, MedicalNational Geographic Photo-graphic Team10 Stephen Alvarez. USA11 Matt Oliphant. USA12 Nancy Pistole. USARefereesDr Tony WalthamDick Willis

Figure 3. Major Rogions of Karst

Figure 2. Google Earth Image of East New Britain

Team membersThe team consisted of twelve members; seven from Britain, one from France and four from the USA (which included three appointed by the National Geo-graphic Society). The expedition took place from 11th January

3

The Exploration ProjectWhile the majority of the team were engaged in meeting rel-evant government officials in the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby and later in Rabaul to purchase supplies, a two-man reconnaissance party consisting of Andy Eavis and James Alker went ahead to establish the best route in. They were to make ontact with the logging camp at Matong shore base and with the two Austra-lian and American missionary families of the New Tribes Mis-sion, stationed at Ora village. Ora village is situated at the headwaters of the Essis River, in one of the remotest areas of the Nakanai Mountains. The old logging road from Pomio village on the coast of Jacquinot Bay reaches all the way to Nutuve village, but this was reported as being overgrown and with many bridges now in a state of collapse. ( Figure 5 ). This trail

was used during the 1984/85 Untamed River Expedition. The original plan was to walk in to Ora village from Nutuve village or Nutuve logging camp, on a trail around 22 kilometres long.

Establishing a baseThe reconnaissance team flew from Rabaul, the capital of East New Britain to Palmalmal vil-lage where a small grass runway is accessible. Palmalmal serves as the Head Quarters of the Local Level Government. The village is situated close to Pomio village on the west side of the bay.

Crossing Jacquinot and Wa-terfall Bay by boat to Matong logging camp, a Niugini Lumber logging truck transported the re-connaissance team 35 kilometres along the well-maintained log-ging road which leads north to the Nutuve logging camp. This camp is situated between the Berg Berg and Ikoi Rivers, 6 ki-

lometres east of Nutuve village. The road lies mainly east of the Berg Berg River and crosses it 30 kilometres upstream. From the logging camp, a two-day walk via Nutuve village took the team to Ora village where contact was made with the mis-sionary families.

Communication with the main team in Port Moresby was established via satellite phone. The walk was described as hard and required the crossing of two major rivers; the Ikoi and Essis, both of which ran through deep steep sided gorges. Although there were many villages along the way, porters were few and far between. From the recon-naissance report it was obvious that the only option was to use a helicopter to transport the main team; along with its three tonnes of equipment and food supplies, from the Nutuve logging camp to Ora village.

Two team members Dave Nixon

Figure 4. Geological Map of the Nakanai Mountains

4

and Robbie Shone flew by helicopter direct to Ora village from Rabaul, as one member of the reconnaissance party, Andy Eavis, had arranged to be flown back from Ora village as

he needed to return to the UK. Dave Nixon, Robbie, James along with local helpers from Ora village, were to locate a suitable camp site close to the

Ora doline and begin its construction. A helicop-ter landing zone was also a priority in case of emergency and equip-ment could be dropped off on the plateau direct from the Nutuve Log-ging camp. They had limited food supplies and building equipment, only what the helicopter could carry in one lift.

The three team members remaining at Ora then climbed up to the pla-teau and located the Ora doline after a three-hour walk across numerous blind valleys and do-

lines. Over the next few days a base camp and a helicopter landing zone was built with the help of Ora villagers. It over-looked the Ora doline.

A freighter had been hired from Rabaul to ship the team and its supplies around the south coast to the Matong shore base log-ging camp, from where logging trucks transported the team and equipment to the Nutuve log-ging camp. Accommodation was kindly supplied by Niugini Lumber. One week later after a delay due to heavy rain, the main team arrived at Ora village by helicopter from the Nutuve logging camp with all supplies. The helicopter attempted to touch down at the landing zone on the plateau but was unable to make a safe landing due to the placement of the logs used as a base.

Figure 5. Expedition Area

Figure 6. Aerial photograph of the twin Ora dolines from 30,000 feet

5

Over a four day period all the team, together with all its equip-ment and supplies; (in 160 porterloads carried for the three hours from the village) finally established themselves at the Ora doline base-camp; it was 27th January, 17 days after leav-ing home. The two missionary families based at Ora village administering to a population of over 100 Kol people, kindly provided accommodation in the village and translated from Kol to English. This greatly facili-tated the hiring of the people in the village. For the majority of the time on the plateau two men from Ora village stayed with the team at the base camp.

Ora Village: photograph D W Gill

Ora Base Camp: photograph D W Gill

6

Exploration of Ora River Cave

The twin doline is situated at E0352250 N9425758 at an elevation of 1000 metres, the village being in the Essis Gorge some 370 metres lower.

The resurgence is approxi-mately 2.4 kilometres away in a cliff above the Essis River at E0353988 N9425318, at an altitude of 660 metres.

An easy route was found to descend the doline without the need for fixed ropes on the north-east side but the Ora river looked to be in high flow, ap-proximately 8 to 10 cubic metres a second. The left hand wall of the down stream entrance portal was sheer with fast flowing white water, but a bank could be seen on the far side of the river. The upstream entrance was fol-lowed via a short cascade to a point where the river could be crossed by a very long legged man, in this case Matt Oliphant. The right hand bank was then followed downstream to gain a fixed anchor point for the tyro-lean rope at the downstream en-trance. A low level tyrolean was installed to cross the river above the falls, later to be replaced by a much safer high level tyrolean well above water level.

The right hand bank soon gave out at a sheer wall and a further very wet tyrolean crossing was established in the river to reach a large washed in log on the far side. This second tyrolean was achieved using the trail ferry technique of hooking a grapnel behind the log and being swept across by the force of the river. Techniques used to good effect in the Nare Cave river in 1984.

A short section of bank followed

Ora River Cave downstream portal Photograph Dave Gill

to more white water. Both sides of the passage appeared sheer with fast flowing water disap-pearing into the distance. This was presumed to be the furthest point reached by the Untamed River Expedition in 1984 when the river must have been in fairly low flow. A ledge high up on the right looked a possible way on so the river was crossed once more and a climb reached the ledge. On the climb a peg was found presumably left by the 1972-73 Australian expedi-tion over 30 years previously but still good enough to use for aid.

It is possible that the Australians failed to reach the ledge other-wise they would have probably explored the cave to a conclu-sion.

7

Figure 7. Downstream Ora River Cave

8

3rd Tyrolean up to the Snake Ledge, Ora River Cave. Photograph Robbie Shone

Far side of Snake Ledge, Ora River Cave. Photograph Robbie Shone

At roof level, “Snake Ledge” rigged with traverse ropes gradually descended back to river level.A further short roped traverse terminated at some nice gour forma-tions. The way on was again atriver level with fixed traverse ropes. A fourth tyrolean followed to reach the left hand bank. Ashort section of wading terminated in a sump after a total distance downstream of 630 metres.

9

4th Tyrolean Ora River Cave. Photograph Robbie Shone

Little Ora River Cave issued as an inlet from a low passage at the downstream entrance. This stream way was mapped for 273 metres to a 14 metre climb with the cave seen continuing beyond.

The upstream cave was ex-plored for a total of 315 metres into the south doline. A small overflow stream entered from a cave entrance on the west side of the doline and was followed

to the main river and a large sump infested by small flies. The main river disappeared into a siphon to the north east reap-pearing in the main upstream passage.

The total length of the Ora River Cave system came to a distance of 1,220 metres, with a depth of 317 metres from the lowest point on the doline rim.

Ora’s twin dolines were sur-

veyed and proved to be a stag-gering 1400 metres in length, 750 metres across and 200 me-tres in depth placing Ora among the largest collapse dolines in the Nakanai Mountains and in the world.

Throughout most of the four weeks of exploration, the Ora River rarely reduced in size from 8 to 10 cubic metres a sec-ond of white water rapids.

Figure 8. Downstream Ora River Cave Elevation

10

Figure 9. Plan of Little Ora River Cave

11

Figure 10. Extended Elevation of Little Ora River Cave

12

Figure 11. Plan of the Upstream Ora River Cave

13

Ora River Caves

14

Phantom PotThe insignificant entrance to Phantom Pot was discovered during the early stages of the expedition. Although little over 1 kilometre from Base Camp it took almost one and a half hours to reach the entrance, giving some indications of the sever-ity of the karst rainforest on the plateau.

The entrance co-ordinate is lo-cated at E 0351655 N 9426643, at an altitude of 1045 metres. 1400 metres of nasty; sharp; me-ander passage; “The Meanders” with a pitch of 18 metre plus a further 6 metre and 20 metre pitch, finally entered the upper Ora River passage, “Upstream Endurance”. This large river passage was explored upstream to a massive lake; “Lake Myo” 67 metres long by 58 metres wide, the chamber being ap-proximately 60 metres high with

a 10 metre high waterfall “Myo Falls”, pouring into the lake.

Downstream a fine 40 metre by 40 metre river passage in deep water leads to a siphon after 200 metres. The separation between this downstream siphon and the upstream siphon of Ora Cave is 132 metres. The exploration in “Downstream Endurance” was plagued by millions of small midge type flies, the same as found in the upstream siphon lake of Ora Cave.

Upstream led to the magnifi-cent “Myo Falls”, a waterfall 10 metres high, the main river inlet. This was climbed by Dave Nixon with the help of the Aus-tralian piton found and retrieved from Ora Cave. This less mature river passage, “Acoustic Canal” was explored for 800 metres, eventually leading to another siphon.

A large fossil inlet passage leads off from the lake for 400 metres passing a narrow inlet, “Zigzag Alley” 341 metres in length. The main passage terminates at a pit blocked with debris. This had clearly been the active river passage before being blocked by a collapse that diverted the main river to its present course. Fos-sil passages are unusual for the Nakanai caves, as the majority of cave passages so far discov-ered still contain active rivers. Phantom Pot was surveyed for 3.9 kilometres in length, over a depth of 191 metres.

Further surface exploration to the north east may well find a continuation of the upper Ora river beyond the present end of Phantom Pot, but the terrain is extreme and logistics consider-able.

Down stream Endurance, Phantom Pot. Photo Robbie Shone

15

Lake Myo, Phantom Pot. Photograph Robbie Shone

Lake Myo, Phantom Pot. Photograph Robbie Shone

16

Phantom Pot

Length:3818 mDepth: 234 mDrawn by:Dave Clucas 2007

Legend

temporary survey station rock border

survey lines blocks, breakdown

wall border

presumed wall water

debris sump

cross-section pebbles

pitch debris

chimney blocks

passage gradient water flow

contour stalactite

Phantom Pot Plan25m

Endurance Extended Elevation25m

Length:1186 mDepth: 84 m

Meanders Extended Elevationm25

Zigzag Alley Extended Elevation25m

Length: 341 mDepth: 32 m

Acoustic Canal Extended Elevationm25

Acoustic Canal

Meanders

Upstream Endurance

Downstream Endurance

Zigzag Alley

17

The Ora Resurgence. Photograph Dave Gill

The Ora ResurgenceSituated at E 0353988 N 9425318, at an altitude of 660 metres. The 40 metre high waterfall of the Ora resurgence was climbed, and the cave above it explored to a siphon after just 129 metres. The total length of the Ora caves, including a few small and relatively immature caves feeding into the main drain, came to 5.4 kilometres.

Prospecting the plateauMany other sinks were inves-tigated, but all proved to be immature; they are either too narrow, or are blocked with sedi-ment. It appears that there are so many blind valleys; dolines and sinks on this area of youthful plateau that drainage is distrib-uted into numerous small catch-ments, with little scope for large surface streams to develop and drain into larger sinks. Some of the gullies contain mudstones over a metre in depth, which may be derived from old volca-nic eruptions. This area is closer to the volcanoes on the north coast of the island, so may ac-

count for the large amounts of decomposed ash. The Nare Cave region has far less soil cover. Many of the caves in this region are fed via well developed can-yons taking large wet weather streams.

The extremely rough karst ter-rain makes traversing it very hard work. Tree cover on the ridges between the dolines and blind valleys has been severely damaged by Cyclone Justine in 1992. Of the larger trees, 60-80% have been destroyed. The ridges therefore tend to be over-grown with new tree growth, bamboo and fallen trees. Cutting tracks on level ground is rarely

possible, as the only way to progress is to descend into each steep-sided valley and climb up the other side, immediately to descend into another one. Various teams spent six days cutting a track to a large blind valley that had been spotted on the aerial photographs, but they only covered 2 kilometres as the crow flies. The potential for gaining access into the further reaches of the upstream Ora River cave system is good, but would require a mammoth ef-fort in trackcutting, with many bivouacs. Tens of kilometres of upstream river cave probably remain to be explored.

18

Figure 14. Triosaurus Pot

Triosaurus PotAt E 0351818 N 9426188, altitude 1000 metres.

Length 62 metres.

Depth 62 metres.

An immature cave with no noticeable draught, blocked with clay and debris.

Challenger PotE 0352005 N 9426543. Altitude 1000 metres. Length 143 metres. Depth 72 metres.

Pulse PotE 0351821 N 9426450. Altitude 1000 metres. Length 60 metres. Depth 46 metres.

Two of the many immature sinks

feeding the Ora Cave System

Hundreds of square kilometres of karst in this area remain to-tally unexplored by man, as even the Ora village people do not venture onto the plateau. Vegeta-tion within the valleys is in pris-tine condition; rich in epiphytes; palms, and gymnosperms. It is a rare privilege in today’s

world to be able to traverse large areas completely untouched by man.

19

Exploration of MageniSituated at E 0354814 N 9421661. Altitude 562 metres.

Mageni cascade. Photograph Robbie Shone

A previously unrecorded multi-ple waterfall; 80 metre high was seen from the helicopter during the flight to Ora village, the local villagers called it Mageni. Half a dozen waterfalls pour from a cliff into the unexplored Iso Gorge. A reconnaissance team was sent to investigate and to establish a bivouac camp. A three-hour walk south from Ora village located the falls - which could be clearly heard from the

edge of the cliff. An abseil of 50 metre and a traverse led into a cave entrance with a large river issuing from it of approximately 2 – 3 cubic metres a second.

With river passages; oxbows; waterfalls; some highly deco-rated galleries the cave was mapped over a period of ten days, for 7.2 kilometres with a vertical range of + 229 metres.

The Megeni cave system with

open river passage at the fur-thest point reached, has a strong draught and a major flow of water. It drains from the north-west, from an area beneath the large valley seen on the aerial photographs. This major river cave system lies parallel to the Ora river cave. Like all the un-derground rivers in this region; including Gamvo and the mighty Nare, they drain from the north-west.

In total the expedition explored and mapped 12.6 kilometres of caves. Another large doline spot-ted on the aerial photographs lies 20 kilometres west of Ora. This was flown over by helicop-ter, and a river was seen crossing its floor and flowing into a cave entrance. This area is normally obscured by clouds so the doline had not been recorded previ-ously. This cave was explored by a later French expedition but soon hit a siphon. It appears that Ora may not be the last of the great dolines and river caves that remain unexplored in the Naka-nai Mountains.

The National Geographic So-ciety Magazine article was published in September of 2006 and prompted the BBC Natural History Unit to film the Mageni Cave “The Lost Land of the Volcano” in April of 2008. Dave Gill, Jean-Paul Sounier and Dave Nixon took part on this expedition. A further 2.2 kilome-tres was added to the total length of the Mageni Cave bringing the total length to 9.4 kilometres.

20

Mageni River passage. Photo Robbie Shone

Mageni River Cave - Ora - East New Britain.Papau New Guinea

Untamed Rivers Expedition - 2006Main entrance : E354814, N9421661 Altitude : 562m

Rumble in theJungle

Mother Duck

Coral Junction

DerbyshireDownfall

Main Entrance

Snakes and DaggersEntrance

Sape

White Rabbits Sump

Drawn by Dave Nixon, April 2007.

The Lake District

Snow Dome

Sagi

Esis Gorge

Snakes and Daggers

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?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Duck

Aven +15m

Falls

Falls

Falls

Scale : Metres

500 10000

3545

00

9422000

9421500

9422500

9423000

3550

00

3540

00

3535

00

3530

00

3525

00

3520

00

3515

00

3510

00

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References.Gill, D W. 1988. The Untamed River Expedition. ISBN 0.9514004.01. Chinley, Via Stockport, UK.Audra, Philippe, Pierre de Coninck and Jean-Paul Sounier (eds.) 2001. Nakanai 1978-1998: 20 years of explo-ration. Association Hemisphere Sud, Antibes, France.Beck, Howard M. 2003. Beneath the Cloud Forests: A History of Cave Exploration in Papua New Guinea. Spe-leoProjects Allschwil, Switzerland.Gill, D W. 2005. Saving the Sublime Karst. Descent Mag. No 186. pp 34-35.Shea, N and Alvarez, S L. 2006. Raging Danger. National Geographic, September 2006. Vol 210, no 3. pp 94-105.Sounier, J P. 2008. Rivieres a gogo, expedition 2006-2007. Untamed Rivers of New Britain. Speleo Magazine 63. pp 10-15.

Appendix 1Equipment listHelmet assembly 6LED personal lights (Myo) 6Rechargeable AA'sEar plugs 100GlovesCaving Clothing3mm wetsuits 6Oversuits lightweight 6Undersuit / base layers 6Wellies or Boots 6 pairsSocks 6 pairsKnee pads (warm tex) 6 pairsCommunicationsPMR Radios with AA batteries 6AA batteries for above 100Booms for radios 6Cases for above 6Rigging equipmentMaillons - 7mm long Steel 150 60 gramsLSK rope - 9mm 600mLSK rope - 10mm 400mBolting hammers 3

Individual Caving Equip-mentEt's 4 PersonalSkyhooks 3Fifi hooks 3Rope protectors 4Pulleys 8Alloy krabs 10mm SG 100Twist hangers alloy 8mm 100Pitons 128mm self drillers 250Drill bits :Hilti 8mm 8

Tripod mounting of disto 1Targets 2Clino 3Compasses (southern hemisphere) 3GPS 3Alimeters 2Log book for allPhotographyIxus 500Individual camera gearImage storing. Flash cards. IpodBinocularsPower supply and GadgetsSolar panels 24V 1Leads for above 112V 7Ah NiCads 2Voltage regulatorsSatellite phone 1AAA batteriesOBA/Fluroscene or RhodameneSpares and accessoriesRescue pulley 2Oval screw gate krabs 10Spare shunts 4Dynamic rope for cowstails 20mReel tubular tape 50mInsulation tape 12Tie wraps 100 assortedRack bars 12 eachStop bobbins 4 pairsAdjustable spanners 2large/smallScrew driver 4Leatherman 2

Medical requirementsDactarin

Personal Equipment Photo: Dve ClucasHilti 10mm 2Petzl drill driver (Rock Pecker) 3Stainless 10mm plates 6Through bolts - 10mm 12Through bolts - 8mm 250Knives 6Battery drills 2River crossing tackleWild sling - Catapault 1Sacks for catapult 10Grappling hooks 4Thin cord 4mm x 100M 1Double pulleys 2Boats 2Boyancy aids 12Surveying tackleLaptop 2Waterproof notebooks 10Non waterproof notebooks 20Pencils and rubbers lotsDisto's 2Power to distos ..see Solar panels

22

1st aid kitsList of vacinationsPolioTetanusTyphoidCholeraRabies with TB immunity state byheaf test and possible BCGGammaglobulin viral hep A etc.Scrub typhus vaccineMalariaChloroquine 300mg base weeklyMaloprimElasterplast lotsSwabs lotsSafety pinsTweesersScissorsFucidin OintmentNystan ointmentAluminium sulphate (stingose)Insect repelentSafapryn tabletsLomotil 30Gaviscon

Hibitane tablets anti sept 20Stemetil tabletsMaloprim 30Nivaquine 40Camp requirementsWater purificationGenerator 1Ortleib bags light and mid weightOrtlieb Folding bowlsLight weight towelsPlatypus water carriers /bladdersThermrests 6Carry mat material 6Tarpauline 4Shock cord 50mSnoopy loops some!Hammocks 6Stoves and fuel for …. 3Silica gel ?Teva's 1 eachSleeping bags 1 each

French Equipment in Pal-malmal (not used)Bairaman expedition

Anchor plates(no screws) 84Anchor plates(with screws) 227Krabs 340Ring bolts 6Belay plates 16Anchors Spit 130Hilti 608mm x 130mm expansion bolts 3008mm x 90mm expansion bolts 30Rope protectors 4Hammers 5Pulleys - swing cheek 4Pulleys - fixed 2Pulleys - rescue 1Platic pulley wheel 2Jerry can 10Fuel bottle 3Fuel bottle with pump 2Burners 2Repair kit 1Carbide 70kgRope:10mm various lengths 424m9mm various lengths 374m8mm various lengths 1230m

LightingPetzl MYO XP lights donated by

Used with a AA alkaline cells. In addition Ben Lyon has kindly supplied us with all our personal caving equipment at a discount-ed price.

Surveying

Helly Hansen supplied the ex-pedition with LIFA® base layer clothing at a discount price.

donated 3 wrist compass/altim-eters 2 Tandem compass/clinos & some T shirts.

TrainingFirst aid training, supplies and advice from Guy Risdon of www.adventurefirstaid.co.uk

White water safety and rescue training day from Rescue 3 UK www.ukrafting.co.uk/rescue3/

Products/medical supplies from Lifemarque www.lifesystems.co.uk

Sponsorship

Palm Equipment gave a discount on personnel floatation devices and have donated two 20m float-ing throw-bags and cowstails

Safety

donated two Leica DISTO™ classic5a instruments to the expedition.

23

Appendix 2MeteorologyA rainfall and weather station was established for the majority of the time except for a short period when the equipment failed to function.

24

David Clucas

Figure 17. Temperature and humidity chart

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Appendix 3Papua New Guinea Contacts 2006.Akuila Tubal, Provincial administrator, East New Britain, enbpa@global.net.pgPO Box 714, Rabaul. Tel (675)9837470Florence Paisparea, ENB Provincial Environmental Officer. Tel 983 7823 (7630)Email: enbpln@global.net.pgLeo Dion, Governor East New Britain.Joe Meava. ENB Environment Conservation Management Committee. PO Box 1434, Kokopo.Tel 983 7630. 982 9250. email: enbecmc@global.net.pgJohn Kalia, President, Central Inland Pomio LLG.Simon Painap, President, West Pomio, LLG.Pius Maka, Acting District Administrator. PO Box 84, Palmalmal.Alous Sumda, District Administrator.James Robins, Divisional Head, The National Research Institute. PO Box 5854,Boroko, NCD. Tel (675)326 0300. Mobile 686 3895. email: jrobins@nri.org.pgVagi R Genorupa. Management of Protected Areas, Dept of Environment and Conservation.PO BOX 6601, Boroko, NCD. Tel (675)325 0195.Email: vgenorupa@yahoo.com.auArthur Ganubella, in charge of Wildlife Management Areas.James Sabi. Biodiversity Programs Officer.Nelson E. Paulias, Tourism Executive Officer, ENB Tourism Bureau, PO Box 385, Rabaul. Tel982 8657. email: enbtourism@global.net.pgPapua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, PO Box 1291, Port Moresby, NCD 121. Tel320 0211. email: info@pngtourism.org.pgPeter Vincent. Email: pvincent@pngtourism.org.pgHelan Pokapin: email hpokapin@pngtourism.org.pgHon Paul Tiensten, Minister of Trade and Industry, Member of Parliament for the PomioDistrict. Tel 325 4963. email: ptiensten@daltron.com.pgAlois Magogo, District Tourism Officer, Pomio District Administration, PO Box 84,Palmalmal.Giakovina Kulu, Executive Director, Conservation International, Melanesia Program.Email: gkula@conservation.orgPhilip Mayang, conservation officer, Sali.Andrew F. Bracamone, RH Survey and Planning Dept, Po Box 122, Port Moresby, NCD. Tel325 0662.Pius Kapuo. Chairman of the landowners, Ire Village.William Giana, Conservation Officer, Pomio.Gabrial Ravali, acting officer in charge, Pomio and Forest Officer.Mr Aume, Officer in Charge, Pomio.John Sapi, Wildlife Management, Galowe.

Appendix 4Expedition BudgetFlights £11,760Helicopter Hire £12,511Land and Fuel £905Boats £872Porters £557Total transport £26,605

Excess baggage £1,191Equipment £6,509Food and accommodation £7,276Hardware £951Medical £787Visas £495Misc, postage, maps etc. £595Total expenditure. £44,409

ReceiptsNational Geographical Society.grant £21,137Royal Geographical Society grant £ 1,500Ghar Parue Foundation £ 400Personal contributions £21,429Total receipts £44,466

26

Appendix 5Towards a Nakanai Mountains Conservation AreaThe Conservation Project

To enable real progress within the plans for conservation, meet-ings took place with the Depart-ment of Environment and Con-servation; the National Research Institute; the Provincial Govern-ment of East New Britain; the Governor of East New Britain; the Tourism Authority; the Lo-cal Level Government Pomio District; non-government con-servation organisations; as well as with local village headmen; villagers, and logging company management.

A hasty and impromptu pre-sentation, just before the team caught the flight back to Singa-pore, was presented to the World Heritage Workshop in Port Mo-resby. This was well received. It was decided that the Nakanai Mountains karst area should be included on the tentative list to be submitted to the World Heritage Bureau. The Sublime Karst of Papua New Guinea Conservation Group completed the relevant documentation later in the year.

There was widespread grass-roots support for conservation of the karst that could be coupled with elements of eco-tourism. Support for timber harvesting in areas under licence is high, which is hardly surprising as the local employed population are thereby able to earn an income. Awareness programmes for lo-cal villages need to be carried out, and agreements must be reached on realistic boundar-ies for a conservation area. One village asked for an access fee of 20,000 kina to visit the Nare, arguing against the people of the

Ire village who claim that the

cave as within their clan area. The expedition therefore de-cided not to visit the Nare, but recommended that a meeting be arranged to reach agreement on access to this internationally important site.

The following notes are pre-liminary comments based on the expedition's observations in the field.

Notes on the state of conserva-tionLogging concessions now need to be reviewed, with second cuts prohibited. Concessions have been awarded for all of the Nakanai Mountains, and these include the high limestone pla-teau. However, logging on the limestone appears to be prohib-ited under the forest code; this is yet to be confirmed, and nobody in the district could confirm the rule.

Almost 100% of the lowland forest has been logged, but abandoned coupes (sectors) are recovering rapidly. For the most part, the lowland forest is on poor soils, mudrocks and soft crumbly limestones, including raised coral reefs. There are few dolines, blind valleys or caves. The Pomio forest officer is en-gaged in re-seeding perimeters of logging roads, log ponds and skid trails. Seedlings have taken firm root in many places and are growing rapidly. Second cuts can be undertaken after as little as six years, depending on the forest type, but no second cuts

were observed. In many cases

it is a 20 year cycle before a second cut takes place.

It is highly recommended that second cuts are prohibited in the lowland and highland areas, as enormous damage results to the natural drainage routes. Existing and new skid trails are extended and incised to such an extent that calculated recovery rates can be as long as 600 years.

The logging managers con-firmed that extraction has reached altitudes of over 1000 m.

Although not observed, it seems certain that logging is taking place on the karst of the Yalam limestone’s. Previous expedi-tions have reported dolines blocked with road debris, but this was not seen by this expe-dition. Logging managers and workers are aware of the forest code - which is observed. Ripar-ian forest is intact as no felling is allowed along river banks. Rosewood and trees of less than 500 mm diameter are not cut. Slopes of more than 30-40º are not logged. No large areas of al-luvial forest were observed this year, though vegetation maps were not studied. The forest type is that of lowland limestone ridge and scree.

The logging companies that the expedition encountered are well managed, employing large num-bers of local people, some in positions of responsibility. Their resource maps were made freely available.

Coupe 1 contains the Nutuve camp of Niugini Lumber, which has now been abandoned (March

27

The World Heritage Proposal Tentative List

Name of PropertyThe Sublime Karst of Papua New Guinea

State and Provinces: East New Britain: Nakanai RangeSouthern Highlands: Muller RangeWestern: Telefomin and Hindenberg Range

Latitude and LongitudeNakanai 150o 40’E - 151o 40’ E 5o 20’S - 5o 55’SMuller Range 142o 10 E - 142o 50’ E 5o 30’ S - 5o 50’STelefomin and Hindenberg 141o E - 142o E 5o S - 5o 30’ S

2006) due to the steep terrain, numerous villages and high rain-falls. It was not confirmed if this will re-open at a later date. The Tokai Matong area has already been logged.

Coupe 2 covers the northern sec-tor and also the unexplored high limestone plateau east of the Iso gorge. Operations are scheduled to start here in 2006-7. It seems doubtful that the limestone pla-teau will be logged, as the ter-rain is similar to that in the Ora region - with few large trees, heavy cyclone damage, numer-ous dolines and many steep sided depressions.

Coupe 3, due to be exploited in 2007-8, covers the area west of the Iso River within the catch-ment of the Kiage River, a tribu-tary of the Iso. This sector will come within 2 km of the Nare site. A timber resource survey has not yet been carried out; if

the area is unproductive, it will not be logged. It would be ap-propriate to impose an exclusion zone 5 km wide around the Nare and Pavie cave systems.

No information was available for the Berg Berg extension, situated between the two riv-ers, but a road was seen near the coast, so presumably this has been logged.

The Aman Timber operation at Galowe has not progressed beyond kilometre 16; this is still 5km from the Muruk cave system, but at an altitude of over 1000 m. An exclusion zone 5 km wide was recommended, but the suggestion was defeated by a vote of the Galowe villag-ers. An exclusion zone of just 50 m was proposed. At present, Aman Timber management have no plans to log beyond the 16 kilometre mark, as the ground is steep, unless instructed to do so

by the holding company.

It was reported that the old log-ging camp between Pomio and Galowe is due to be reopened this year, probably for a sec-ond cut. The Kavakuna cave is already protected as a Wildlife Management Area, and the old abandoned road is now over-grown. The forest is intact in the area surrounding the cave.

Generally the high Nakanai karst is in pristine condition, the majority un-traversed by man. Cyclone Justine was a natural disaster and the forest will recover given time. A high percentage of the large trees were destroyed - and this may fortuitously preclude logging operations. The ground is steep, with many dolines, so it will generally offer a poor yield.

David W Gill

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DescriptionA Serial Nomination of three Natural Heritage Properties. Together, they contain the most striking and challenging karst areas of the country.

Papua New Guinea lies at the junction of the Australian and Pacific crustal plates. The rela-tively low-lying Southern area is, in effect, an isolated fragment of Northern Australia.

However, the mobile central belt has been subject to an indeed turbulent geological history with folding, faulting and deforma-tion of the rocks and consid-erable volcanic activity. The resulting central mountains are rugged and rise to over 5000 metres. In the Northern region, there are the mountains originat-ing from the Pacific plate, with the Huon Peninsula and other mountains now forming part of the mainland, and others form-ing the island arcs, including New Ireland and New Britain. Again these areas have been subject to continuing volcanism and tectonic movement. The raised terraces of the Huon pro-vide evidence of the geoclimatic history over the last 300,000 years.

Significant karst occurs in the mountains of the central high-lands mobile belt, and the Bis-marck Archipelago of the Pacific plate. That on the Southern side

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value

Criteria:Nakanai(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) √ (vi) (vii) √ (viii) √ (ix) √ (x) √Muller(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) √ (viii) √ (ix) √ (x) √Telefomin /Hindenberg(i) (ii) (iii) √ (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) √ (viii) √ (ix) √ (x) √

of the central highlands provides one of the most extensive and spectacular areas of polygonal karst landscapes in the world. Extremely large and complex cave systems have developed in the central mountains, e,g, in the Telefomin and Hindenburg Range areas to the West and in the Atea area of the Muller Plateau.

Large areas of karst occur in both New Ireland and New Britain, with the latter having massive limestone plateaus with river caves on a remarkable scale. These karst areas are all on a grand scale and represent absolutely outstanding examples of Edmund Burke’s concept of the Sublime. This can well be summarized in his words as be-ing “ . . .exhilarating to contem-plate, of the most exalted kind, distinguished by size or nobility or grandeur such as to inspire awe and wonder raised far above the ordinary”. This is discussed further below in relation to each site.

The geological and geomorphic history of the country, coupled with intervening periods of both land bridge linkages and isola-

tion has resulted in a remarkable diversity and fragmentation of habitats. In turn, there has been strongly shaped and developed by a diversity of both Australian and Indo-Malaysian influences. Similarly, the human ecology has resulted in a total of over 1,000 languages and the inevi-table linguistic communities.

All three areas included here are generally covered with either a lowland broadleaved hill forest or the lower montane forests. Valleys have often been devel-oped for a variety of farming purposes, while the forests may be harvested for non-timber products. Other regions, in-cluding the smaller low-level islands, have a large number of quite different caves usually in the young and relatively shallow coralline limestones, and many of these are of significant cul-tural value, but are not further discussed here.

Discussion of the criteria that provide the justification for Out-standing Universal Value and

more detailed description is pro-vided below, dealing separately with each area.

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NakanaiThe Nakanai Mountains is an area of outstanding natural beau-ty on the Island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. To the north the mountain range is dominated by a group of spectacular volca-noes. It is bounded on the east by the Kol Mountains and to the west the Kapiura – Ania Di-vide which divides the Nakanai Mountains from the Whiteman Range.

(v) An outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land use and sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures) and human interaction with the environment when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.

The cultural significance of the indigenous clans is a vital and integral part of the Nakanai Mountains. Their traditions and beliefs are as important as the biodiversity and caves of this unique part of the world. As in many parts of Papua New Guin-ea, traditional culture and life-style remains relatively intact, in spite of persistent modernism. The bond to the traditional lands provides a remarkably stable basis for both community and personal sense of identity. It of-fers a stable cultural basis from which the people have been able to adapt to and function well within the culture of modern-ism without abandoning their traditional culture. In the Naka-nai, this means that the various villages generally remain true to their cultural traditions, pursing a hunter-gatherer lifestyle inte-grated with simple agriculture.

(vii) Contains superlative natural phenomena and areas of exceptional natural beauty and

aesthetic importance.

The geological history covers a period of 43 million years and the mountains exhibit rapid uplifting, some of the highest recorded. The majority of the mountain range lies within the Yalam limestones and is a karst landscape of limestone up to 1.5 kilometres in thickness, depos-ited over a period of 17 million years. The limestone regions contain numerous white water rivers situated in spectacular one kilometre deep gorges. Large rivers can be seen issuing from caves as beautiful waterfalls from high above river level. There are many massive sink-holes with collapsed dolines up to 400 metres deep and 500 me-tres in diameter. At the base of the dolines some of the world’s largest and most turbulent un-derground rivers flow, some of them at over 20 tons of water a second in caves of outstanding natural beauty and of immense proportions.

The caves are of international importance and are unique as they are considered to be among the most active river caves in the world and are certainly some of the most technically difficult caves in the world to explore. Muruk Cave is 17 kilometres long and 1178 metres deep, the deepest cave in the south-ern hemisphere and one of the most beautiful 1000 metre deep caves in the world. The entrance pitch of Nare is one of the most impressive known being 250 metres deep with a massive river flowing along the base into one of the largest river passages in the world. Minye Cave pos-sesses one of the biggest known pitch entrances at 410 metres in depth. At the bottom a river, car-

rying 15 cubic metres of water per second, roars into the im-mense cave.

Kavakuna is also a giant do-line with its 392 metre deep entrance pitch. One side is not vertical so this cave is suitable for adventure eco-tourism. A further newly discovered cave is more difficult of access, but does provide for a journey of only medium difficulty and great beauty, so may be appropriate for visitors seeking a degree of challenge.

The coastal regions are also of exceptional natural beauty and exhibit raised coral reefs and ter-races up to 200 meters above sea level with numerous pure white coral sand beaches fringed with palms.

(viii) An outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant ongo-ing geological processes in the development of land forms, and significant geomorphic physio-graphic features

Although the very real prob-lems of access have constrained research at this stage, and the re-gion is still far from being fully understood, the geomorphol-ogy of the karst certainly has a multitude of distinctive features which result from its turbulent history of tectonic movement, volcanism, heavy rainfall, limestone deposition and intense karstification.

(ix) Outstanding examples representing significant ongo-ing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals

30

As with so many of the isolated areas of Papua New Guinea, the Nakanai is unique in its geo-logical evolution and its biodi-versity. In particular, it demon-strates high levels of localization and endemism, with various adaptations to the remarkable karst environment. Over 20 new species of troblobitic or stygio-bitic fauna have been collected from the caves, although few of these have yet been named and described.

The mountains range in altitude from sea level to 2185 meters and are predominantly covered by primary tropical rain forest of lowland and montane types but with relatively few large trees. Although the vegetation has not yet been adequately studied, it is particularly rich in epiphytic species and is considered of high biological importance. A vast range of both flora and fauna has been identified; many species are endemic to New Britain and are found nowhere else on earth. This is only a small proportion of the estimated total and no doubt there will be thousands more species identified with further research.

There are also a number of eco-logically important Mangrove swamp forests. Estuarine Croco-diles and Leather Back Turtles inhabit the coastal waters along with a vast variety of marine species. The pristine and biolog-ically important reefs lie close to shore with a huge diversity of coral forms and marine life.

(x) The most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of bio-logical diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from

the point of view of science or conservation.

Although faunal and floral inventories are only at an early stage, there are at least eight species of endemic or near-endemic mammals, and at least four of these are recognised as endangered. Similarly, there are 22 endemic or near-endemic species of birds, including eight that are recognised as threat-ened.

Assurances of authenticity or integrityThe ranges and plateau have only a very sparse human popu-lation, with only small villages generally on the lower lands. Various areas of flat or near-flat land are used for cultivation, but then once harvested are left to lie fallow until secondary forest is re-established. Some natural disturbance results from such causes as earthquakes or land-slides. Thus, one can say that the natural forest has remained very much in its original but nev-ertheless, is in a dynamic and constantly changing state.

Comparison with other similar propertiesAlthough as already empha-sized, the Papua New Guinea environments must be recogn-ised as distinctive, one can make superficial comparisons with a few World Heritage proper-ties. Gunung Mulu (Malaysia), Thung Yai Hua Kha Kaeng (Thailand) and Phong Nha Ke Bang (Vietnam) each of which have large but morphologically very distinctive cave systems with a rich but structurally distinctive forest on the surface. The underground rivers in these and most other cave systems have relatively gentle flows and

relatively little fluctuation in water levels.

None of the other major under-ground rivers share the continu-ous volume and turbulence of the Nakanai Rivers. The giant Baliem River system in West Papua (and several other under-ground rivers) may be of similar volume only during short peri-ods of massive flooding which may not even occur every year. Aerial reconnaissance suggests that the closest comparison may lie in a totally unexplored region of Halmahera in Indonesia.

Muller PlateauThe surface terrain of the Muller Plateau is extremely inhospi-table and difficult to traverse. The area being proposed for inclusion here is in fact virtually uninhabited.

(vii) Contains superlative natural phenomena and areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.

The Muller Plateau has, even in comparison with other Papua New Guinea sites, a very com-plex geological history and structure. The karst occurs in the Cretaceous Ieru forma-tion, the Oligocene-Miocene Darai Limestone and a series of younger marine sedimentary rocks with some volcanic and alluvial deposits of Pleistocene or even Holocene age. Each of these has a diversity of interbed-ded limestones, siltstones and mudstones.

The whole area has been subject to faulting and folding as a result of continuing tectonic move-ments. At the same time, joints have often been enlarged by the heavy rainfall of the region and so added to the complex struc-

31

tural arrangements. In turn, the underground hydrology reflects this complexity with a network of branching distributaries many of which may later coalesce into major drainage channels.

The overall result is a very complex surface landscape with many caves, of which the two major systems are long and deep complex networks. Atea Kanada has been surveyed to 35 km. and Mamo Kanada to 55 km, but with many unexplored areas remaining. These caves are again particularly spectacular and challenging and very ade-quately demonstrate the sublim-ity phenomenon upon which this nomination is based.

(viii) An outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant ongo-ing geological processes in the development of land forms, and significant geomorphic physio-graphic features

While parts of these have large high-energy rivers that charac-terize other areas, there are also high-level tunnels that no longer carry streams and so provide lower energy areas. This has in turn created an environment that has fostered the genesis and evo-lution of a rich invertebrate fau-na. It also provides areas which have yielded palaentological and clastic deposits which again will further our understanding of the karst history.

(ix)Outstanding examples repre-senting significant ongoing eco-logical and biological processes in the evolution and develop-ment of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals

The invertebrate fauna of these caves is the richest discovered to date in Papua New Guinea. Many species remain unde-scribed and un-named, but it is clear that the fauna as a whole will provide an excellent op-portunity for evolutionary and ecological research. There have not been any adequate system-atic surveys of the surface biota. We only know that in general, the montane forests of the Cen-tral Cordillera (within which the plateau is located) have some of the most diverse biotic commu-nities of the country.

(x) The most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of bio-logical diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

Again, this criterion is currently data deficient, but further stud-ies will be carried out prior to nomination.

Assurances of authenticity or integrityThe Plateau remains uninhabited and is undergoing little change other than that which is natural and endemic to the geological instability of the country.

Comparison with other similar propertiesIt is difficult to identify a World Heritage property that is genu-inely comparable with this. Probably that which most close-ly approximates is Gunung Mulu (Malaysia), but the geological structure and hence morphology of the karst is totally different, and hence, so is the biodiversity.

Telefomin and the Hindenburg Wall(iii) a unique or at least excep-tional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which living or which has disap-peared.

This is the only known site in Papua New Guinea where not only were the cave entrances used by the people as shelter, but they also entered deep into the dark zone of the caves, leaving behind well-preserved evidence of their presence. The caves contain rock art and many of the artifacts of everyday life at least as far as 700 metres from light.

(vii) Contains superlative natural phenomena and areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.

This area has a spectacular sur-face landscape, largely because of the dominating Hindenburg Wall – the northern scarp of the range, rising to a maximum level of some 1500 m. It is rich in both major surface karren and caves, some of an immense size.

(viii) An outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant ongo-ing geological processes in the development of land forms, and significant geomorphic physio-graphic features

As is often the case, the caves contain a record of the past.

(ix)Outstanding examples repre-senting significant ongoing eco-logical and biological processes in the evolution and develop-ment of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals

32

The most striking and unusual example is the presence of polychaete worms (and perhaps some other species) which are a relict of the last incursion of the sea. They have obviously evolved from marine ances-tors and are now adapted to the freshwater environment. It again symbolizes the complexity of the country’s history in that these species occur only in a site so far distant from the current shorelines.

Biodiversity is particularly rich with a mixture of high altitude grasslands and wet montane forest with high levels of ende-mism. However, more detailed analysis is required to distin-guish records from the Star Mountains area of Telefomin, the Muller Plateau and the Cen-tral / Eastern Highlands.

(x) The most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of bio-logical diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

Again, this criterion is currently data deficient, but further studies are currently in progress.

Assurances of authenticity or integrityMuch of the area is uninhabited; most of the caves have only been entered by a single expedi-tion. It is in a less disturbed state than virtually any other part of the country.

Comparison with other similar propertiesIt is difficult to identify a World Heritage property that is genu-inely comparable with this. Probably that which most close-

ly approximates is Gunung Mulu (Malaysia), but the geological structure and hence morphology of the karst is totally different, and hence, so is the biodiversity.

BibliographyAudra, Philippe, Pierre de Coninck and Jean-Paul Sounier (eds.) 2001. Nakanai 1978-1998: 20 years of exploration. Association Hemi-sphere Sud, Antibes, France.[This volume includes a compre-hensive bibliography of earlier publications on the Nakanai and so they are not listed here]Beck, Howard M. 2003. Beneath the Cloud Forests: A History of Cave Exploration in PapuaNew Guinea. SpeleoProjects Alls-chwil, Switzerland.Bishop, K.D. & Jones, Darryl N. 2001. The Montane Avifauna of West New Britain, withspecial reference to the Nakanai Mountains, Emu, 101(3): 205-220.Bonaccorso, Frank J. 1998. Bats of Papua New Guinea. Conservation International,Washington DC.Brooke, D. (ed) The British New Guinea Speleological Expedition 1975. Transactions of the British Cave Research Association. 3(3-4-):113-243.Dow, D.B. 1977. A Geological Synthesis of Papua New Guinea. Australian Bureau of MineralResources: Geology and Geophys-ics Publication 201.Fingleton, Jim. 2005. Privatising Land in the Pacific: A defence of customary tenures. The Australia Institute Canberra. Discussion Paper # 80.Flannery, Tim. 1995a. Mammals of New Guinea. Reed Books, Chats-wood NSW.Flannery, Tim. 1995b. Mammals of the South-West Pacific & Moluccan Islands. Reed Books,Chatswood NSW.Flannery, Tim. 1998. Throwim Way Leg: An adventure. Text Publishing,

Melbourne Vic. Pp.105-174.Geoffroy, Jean-Jacques. n.d. Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinee in Juberthie, Christian and Decu,Vasile. n.d. Encyclopædia Bios-peologica, Vol.III. Société Interna-tionale de Biospéologie, Moulis, France and Bucharest, Romania. Pages 2133-2146.Gillieson, D. and Spate, A. 1998. Karst and Caves in Australia and New Guinea, in YuanDaoxian and Liu Zaihua (eds) Global Karst Correlation. Science Press, Beijing and VSP VB, Neth-erlands. Pages 229-256.James, Julia M. (ed) 1974 Papua New Guinea Speleological Expe-dition NSRE 1973. Speleological Research Council Ltd., Kingsford, NSW.James, Julia M. and Jane Dyson (eds) 1980. Caves and Karst of the Muller Range. Speleological Research Council Ltd., Broadway NSW.James, Julia M. et al. 1984. Muller ’82 – The Australian Expedition to the Muller Range, Papua New Guinea. Speleovision: 14th Austral-ian Speleological Biennial Confer-ence, Adelaide SA. Pp 151-159.Lıffler, Ernst. 1977. Geomorphol-ogy of Papua New Guinea. CSIRO and Australian National University Press, Canberra.Wikramanayake, Eric, Dinerstein and Colby J. Loucks et al (eds) 2002. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A Conservation As-sessment. Island Press Washington. See particularly Pages 543-545, 553-591.Worthy, T. H. and T.F.Flannery, 1996. Fossil bones from Mamo Kananda, Southern Highlands, Pa-pua New Guinea. Helictite 34(2): 49-54.Philippe Audra, David W Gill, Elery Hamilton-Smith, Jean-Paul Sounier, and Leo Salas

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western boundary. The paths closest to the karst could mark the proposed protected area. The villages include Moralina-Kinsena-Au’una-Pelin-Kaitoto-Okimpuna-Pokapuna. The Ivulu River is then followed down stream to Silali Village.This crosses the boundary into West New Britain. It could then fol-low the karst boundary to the north east crossing the Ivuli; Inu and Tiaru Rivers to skirt the three volcanoes.

The northern boundaryThe Tiaru River is followed to the east skirting Mount Gal-loseulo following the line of the Hargy Caldera. The Balima Riv-er can then be followed down stream to the north. The bound-ary then skirts Mount Bamus to the Mayaperva Creek and down stream to the east. This is a west tributary of the Pandi River and passes the major south tributary of the Manang River which drains from the karst. The karst boundary is then followed cross-ing tributaries of the Sagi River. The boundary would then cross the Kanu; the Toki and Pali Riv-ers following the escarpment. The boundary then follows the Pandi river to Muranpuna vil-lage, then Muela, then crosses the Paili river.

Then follows the karst bound-ary to the east for 10 kilometres crossing a number of north draining streams and rivers until we reach the eastern side of the proposed boundary.

The eastern boundaryThe Korindindi River could then mark the boundary for 12 kilometres to the south. When the head waters are reached the karst boundary is followed to Ora Village. The eastern bound-

ary

follows the Kol Mountain di-vide, fo lowing the peaks. This water shed lies between the rivers flowing south and west towards the karst and the rivers flowing to the north east into Wide Bay.

This takes in a considerable area of the Kol Mountains. The boundary finally reaches back to the coast to the west of the Mogigi River West Branch. If including the Kol south-west slopes is too much, the boundar-ies could follow the Korindindin river then to Ora village, go east, cross the Ikoi, follow the Berg-berg south-east upstream branch and then the Magigi (North branch) to this river mouth.

Jean-Paul Sounier, David W Gill.

Species ListsThe 2009 Conservation Interna-tional Rapid Biological Assess-ment of the Nakanai Mountains confirmed the importance of the Nakanai Mountains as contain-ing a high biological diversity of endemic species. This assess-ment included - 140 species of ants with 9 new to science and an estimated 40 possibly new to science.35 species of Katydids with 12 new to science including 1 new genus.32 species of Odonata ( Dragonflies and Damseflies ) with 2 new to sci-ence and 9 endemic to New Britain.Over 100 species of spiders in 20 families with an estimated 50 % new to science.39 species of Herpetofauna with 6 endemic to the Nakanai Mountains. The total included 23 frogs, 14 lizards and 4 snakes, 4 of the frogs new to science.64 species of birds with 22 clas-sified as Restricted Range and 6

Proposed Nakanai Moun-tains Conservation AreaBoundary proposal.The proposed area can be found on the following Topographical Survey Sheets, Series T601,

1:100,000, numbers –9085 Fulleborn9086 Anai9186 Ludtke9187 Ulawun9287 Kol9286 Jacquinot9387 OrfordGeological Series Sheets –SB/56-5 and SB/56-9 Talasea-Gasmata.SB/56-6 Pomio.The western boundary and southern marine boundaryThe suggested western boundary starts at the estuary of the Tavalo River to the east of Tavalo vil-lage. This includes an area of raises coral terraces.

A direct 5 kilometre line could be taken out to sea which would include a few coral reefs and islands lying 1 to 5 kilometres off shore. The bathymetric 500 metre counter line lies between 1 and 5 kilometres from the coast which could be used for the southern marine boundary.

The western boundary then follows a north east tributary of the Tavalo River then head-ing north east to join the Rim River. The boundary then goes north and east to join the Melkoi River, passing Matawan and Ulutu Villages to the east. A northern tributary of the Melkoi is followed to the Au River a western tributary of the Torlu River passing Au Una Mission and Mempuna Village. Numer-ous villages and paths skirt the boundary of the karst along this

34

endemic. The list can be found in the Conservation International Report referenced below compiled by Paul Igag.A total of 127 species have now been recorded from New Brit-ain, 13 are endemic. 26 species of mammals with 3 – 4 new to science including 1 new genus.

ReferencesRichards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2011. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Nakanai Moun-tains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conser-vation International. Arlington, VA.

D. Gassmann (2011): Pseudagrion lorenzi sp. nov., a new damselfly species from New Britain island, Papua New Guinea (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), International Journal of Odonatology, 14:2, 149-162

The Mammals of the Na-kanai Mountains.The data base has been compiled from the sources as referenced below.

A total of 49 mammal species are estimated.

The BatsThe largest group of mammals. 32 species have been identified from the Nakanai Mountains.

The Whiteman Range; Gilliard’s Flying-fox; Pteropus gilliarorum and the New Ireland; SerisSheath-tailed bat, Emballonura siri are not included in the total but have been listed as have 3 other probable species.8 species are classified as en-demic with a total of 29 IUCN Red listed. 3 - (LR/nt), Low Risk, near threatened; 21 - (LR/lc) or (LC/lc), Lower Risk, least concern, 3 - (VU), Vulnerable and 2(DD) Data deficient.Lists after Ken P Aplin, Muse Opiang and David W Gill

The Bats

ID Order Family Genus Species Common Name IUCN Red List

Notes and Distribution

Chi-roptera

1 Bats Pteropodidae Dobsonia anderseni Andersen’s Bare-Backed Fruit Bat

Endemi-cLR/lc

CI report

2 Pteropodidae Dobsonia praedatrix Bismarck Naked-Backed Fruit Bat

LR/nt. Endemic

CI report

3 Pteropodidae Nyctimene vizcaccia Bismarck Tube-nosed bat

LR/lc CI report

4 Pteropodidae Nyctimene albiventer Common Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

LR/lc CI report

5 Pteropodidae Nyctimene cyclotis Round-eared Tube-nosed FB

LR/nt wide spread

6 Pteropodidae Nyctimene major Island Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

LR/lc En-demic

wide spread

7 Pteropodidae Macroglos-sus

Minimus nanus

Northern Blossom Bat LR/lc wide spread

8 Pteropodidae Melonyct-eris

melanops Black-belied Fruit Bat LR/lc En-demic

wide spread

9 Pteropodidae Pteropus admirali-tatum

Admiralty Flying-fox LR/lc En-demic

wide spread

10 Pteropodidae Pteropus capistratus Bismarck Flying-fox wide spread? Pteropodidae Pteropus gilliardorum Gilliard’s NB Flying-fox VU D2

EndemicWhiteman R

11 Pteropodidae Pteropus hy-pomelanus

Small-variable Flying-fox

LR/lc wide spread

12 Pteropodidae Pteropus neohiberni-cus

Great Flying-fox LR/lc wide spread

? Pteropodidae Pteropus temmincki Temminck’s Flying-fox LR/nt probable13 Pteropodidae Rousettus amplexi-

caudatusGeoffrey’s Rousette LR/lc CI report

35

The Bats

ID Order Family Genus Species Common Name IUCN Red List

Notes and Distribution

14 Pteropodidae Syconyct-eris

australis finschi

Bismarck Blossom-bat LR/lc CI report

? Emballonuridae Embal-lonura

seri Seris Sheath-tailed Bat

DD New Ireland

?

Emballonuridae Embal-lonura

dianae Large-eared Sheath-tailed Bat

VU A2c probable

15 Emballonuridae Mosai nigrescens Lesser Sheath-tailed Bat

IC report

16 Rhinolophidae Rhinolo-phus

euryotis Broad-eared Horse-shoe Bat

LR/lc wide spread IC report

17 Rhinolophidae Rhinolo-phus

Megaphyl-lus vande-useni

Smaller, Eastern Horseshoe Bat

LR/lc wide spread IC report

18 Rhinolophidae Aselliscus tricuspida-tus koop-mani

Temmink’s Trident Horseshoe

LR/lc IC report

19

Rhinolophidae Hipposide-ros

ater Dusky Roundleaf Bat LR/lc wide spread

20 Rhinolophidae Hipposide-ros

calcaratus Spurred Roundleaf Bat

LR/lc wide spread

21 Rhinolophidae Hipposide-ros

cervinus Fawn Roundleaf Bat wide spread

22 Rhinolophidae Hipposide-ros

diadema oceanitis

Diadem Horsesoe Bat wide spread IC report

23 Rhinolophidae Hipposide-ros

maggietay-lorae

Maggie Taylor’s Horsesoe Bat

LR/lc IC report wide spread

? Rhinolophidae Hipposide-ros

demissus ? endemic probable

24 Vespertilionidae Kerivoula myrella Bismarck Trumpet-eared Bat

VU A2c endemic

wide spread

25 Vespertilionidae Philetor brachypter-us

Rohu’s Bat wide spread

26 Vespertilionidae Miniopter-us

australis Little Bent-winged Bat wide spread

27 Vespertilionidae Miniopter-us

macroc-neme

Small Melanesian Bent-winged

DD CI report

28 Vespertilionidae Miniopter-us

propitristis Large Melanesian Bent-winged

wide spread

29 Vespertilionidae Miniopter-us

medius Medium Bentwing Bat LC/lc IC report

30 Vespertilionidae Myotis adversus Large-footed Mouse-eared Bat

LC/lc wide spread

31 Vespertilionidae Pipistrellus Angulatus angulatus

New Guinea Pipistrelle LC/lc IC report wide spread

32 Vespertilionidae Pipistrellus papuanus Papuan Pipistrelle LC/lc IC report wide spread

36

The Cloven-Hoofed UngulatesThe Feral pig, sus scrofa is an introduced species and is wide spread throughout the Nakanai Moun-tains.

Cloven-hoofed Ungulates

ID Order Family Genus Species Common Name

IUCN Red List Distribution

1 Artiodactyla Suidae Sus scrofa Feral Pig alien wide spread

The MarsupialsA total of 4 species have been identified, all are IUCN Red Listed. 4- (LR/lc), Low Risk, least concern.

The Marsupials

ID Order Family Genus Species Common NameIUCN Red List

Distribu-tion

And Notes

1 Diprotodontia Macropodidae Thylogale browni New Guinea Pade-melon

LR/lc CI report

2 Diprotodontia Phalangeridae Phalanger Orientalis

breviceps

Southern Common Cuscus

LR/lc CI report

3 Diprotodontia Petauridae Pataurus breviceps Sugar Glider LR/lc probable4 Peramelemorphia Peramelidae Echymipera kalubu Common Spiny

BandicootLR/lc CI report

The RodentsA total of 8 Rodents are confirmed with a further 4 probable, 8 – IUCN Red Listed. 7 – (LR/lc), Low Risk, least concern and 1 – (VU), Vulnerable. 2 – classified as endemic and 3 – introduced species.

3 to 4 identified by the Conservation International expedition in 2009 are not IUCN evaluated, repre-senting 3 -4 new to science with 1 new genus and at least 2 new genera.

ID Order Family Genus Species Common Name IUCN Red List Notes

Rodents1 Rodentia Muridae Hydromys neobritannicus New Britain Wa-

ter RatVU B1+2c Endemic Near threatened

CI report

2 Muridae Melomys levipes Long-nosed mo-saic- tailed

LR/lc probable

3 Muridae Melomys platyops Lowland mosaic-tailed

LR/lc probable

4 Muridae Melomys rufescens Black-tailed mosaic-tailed

LR/lc probable

5 Muridae Melomys Un described Not evaluated CI report6 Muridae Melomys Un described genus

and speciesNot evaluated CI report

37

ID Order Family Genus Species Common Name IUCN Red List Notes 7 Muridae Pogonomys macrourus Chestnut Tree-

mouseLR/lc CI report

8 Muridae Pogonomys Un described genus and species

Not evaluated CI report

9 Muridae Rattus exulans Pacific or Poly-nesian Rat

LR/lc. Alien CI report

10 Muridae Rattus praetor Spiny Rat LR/lc. Alien CI report11 Muridae Rattus rattus Black Rat Alien probable12 Muridae Uromys neobritannicus Bismarck Giant

RatLR/lc Endemic CI report

The Marine Mammals.

The list is included as the Dugong and the Whales are within range, but no records exist of sightings. The Dolphins are frequent visitors in the bays but the Genus and species remain unknown so have not been included in the mammal total.

Marine

ID Class Order Family Genus Species Common Name IUCN Red List Distribution

Mammalia1 Aquatic

Mammals2 Sirenia Dugongiae Dugong dugon Dugong VU data deficient3 Cetacea Kogidae Pygmy Sperm

WhaleLR/Ic data deficient

4 Cetacea Kogidae Dwarf Sperm Whale

LR/Ic data deficient

5 Cetacea Ziphidae Beaked Whale DD data deficient6 Cetacea Ziphidae Beaked Whale DD data deficient7 Cetacea Delphinidae ? sp Marine Dolphins LR/Cd and

DDJacquinot Bay

Selected References:

Ken P Aplin and Muse Opiang in Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2011. Rapid Biologi-cal Assessments of the Nakanai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Con-servation International. Arlington, VA.

Animal Diversity Web University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (1995-2006). Abdullah MT. 2003. Biogeography and variation of Cynopterus brachyotis in Southeast Asia. PhD thesis. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.Birt, P., Markus, N., Collins, L. & Hall, L. (1998) Nature Australia, Spring, pp. 55-59.Bonaccorso, Frank J. 1998. Bats of Papua New Guinea. Conservation International, Washington DC.Corbet, GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Churchill, S. 1998. Australian Bats. Clare Coney. Reed New Holland, Sydney, pp. 84-85.ISBN 1-876334-07-XFlannery, Tim. 1995a. Mammals of New Guinea. Reed Books, Chatswood NSW.Flannery, Tim. 1995b. Mammals of the South-West Pacific & Moluccan Islands. Reed Books, Chatswood NSW.Flannery, Tim. 1998. Throwim Way Leg: An adventure. Text Publishing, Melbourne Vic. Pp. 105-174.Flannery, T.F; Martin, R; Szalay, A. 1996. Tree Kangaroos, A curious natural history. Reed Books, Melboune,

38

Australia.Groves, Colin (16 November2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 69-70. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. Hall, L. (1983) Spectacled flying fox. In R. Strahan (ed.). The Mammals of Australia, Reed Books, Chatswood, p. 282.Hall LS, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Sarawak Museum Journal LX(81):191-284.Karim, C., A.A. Tuen and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221—234.Law, B.S., 1993 ‘Roosting and Foraging Ecology of the Queensland Blossom Bat (syconycteris australis) in North-eastern New South Wales: Flexibility Response to Seasonal Variation’, Vol. 20, pp. 419-31.Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2005). Mohd. Azlan J., Ibnu Maryanto , Agus P. Kartono and M.T. Abdullah. 2003 Diversity, Relative Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sarawak Museum Journal 79: 251-265.Nowak, R. 1991. Walker’s Mammals of the World, Fifth Edition. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins Uni-versity Press.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Papua New Guinea. IUCN (2001). Wikramanayake, Eric, Dinerstein and Colby J. Loucks et al (eds) 2002. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press Washington. See particularly Pages 543-545, 553-591.

Wilson DE, Reeder DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC.

D.W.Gill

The Herpetofauna of the Nakanai Mountains.

Explanatory notes.

The data base for the reptiles and amphibians recorded from the Nakanai Mountains and surrounding area is compiled from the Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum, the Bishop Museum records and the Conservation International Rapid Assessment Report 2011.

All species are confirmed sightings and referenced but most are dated so the lists below can only be regarded as estimates.

The distribution field is taken from the Bishop Museum maps and where otherwise stated the species have been recorded from the Nakanai Mountains and coastal regions.

Species recorded from the north coast, East and West New Britain or Rabaul have not been recorded from the Nakanai Mountains but in all probability are represented so have been included in the data base.

The Reptiles

The Snakes

22 species of snakes are recorded in the literature. The majority of the records date from the 1800s’. The Conservation International expedition 2009 recorded 4. Acutotyphlops sp, Bothrochilus boa, Can-doia carinata and Stegonotus sp.

None are recorded on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

39

The SnakesID Order Family Genus Species Common name Distribution

1 Serpentes Acrochordidae Acrochordus granulatus Wart or File Snake all coastal areasSnakes

3 Boldae Candola aspera Ground Boa widespread5 Boldae Candola carinata Tree Boa long tailed widespread6 Boldae Candola paulsoni West NB prob-

able7 Colubridae Boiga Irregularis Brown Snake widespread8 Colubridae Dendrelaphis calligastra Tree Snake East Nakanai9 Colubridae Dendrelaphis punctulatus Tree Snake rare

10 Colubridae Stegonotus heterurus Ground Snake East New Britain

11 Colubridae Stegonotus parvus Ground Snake Rabaul, West NB

12 Colubridae Tropidonophis dahlii Keelback East and West NB

13 Colubridae Tropidonophis hypomelas Keelback north coast19 Elapidae Acanthophis leavis Death Adder widespread20 Elapidae Aspidomorphus muelleri Crowned Snake widespread21 Elapidae Laticauda colubrina Blue Banded Sea Snake Rabaul, prob-

able22 Elapidae Laticauda laticaudata Sea Snake Rabaul, prob-

able23 Elapidae Hydrophis pacificus Sea Snake rare24 Elapidae Hydrophis ornatus Sea Snake rare25 Elapidae Pelamis platuras Sea Snake Rabaul, prob-

able26 Elapidae Enhydrena schistosa Sea Snake rare27 Pythonidae Bothrochilus boa Bismarck Ringed Python widespread28 Pythonidae Morella amethistena Python widespread29 Pythonidae Morella viridis Python widespread

Selected references.

Richards, S.J. in Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2011. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Naka-nai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conservation International. Arlington, VA.Allisson, Allen; Bickford, David; Richards, Stephen; Torr, Geordie. 1998. Herpetofauna. A biological as-sessment of the Lakekamu Basin, Papua New Guinea. 9:58-62, 156-172Conservation International, Washington, D.C.. 58-62, 156-172pp.Barbour, Thomas. 1921. Reptiles and amphibians from the British Solomon Islands. Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club. 7:91-112.Barrett, Charles Leslie. 1950. Reptiles of Australia. Cassell & Company Limited, London. 168pp.Brass, Leonard J. 1959. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 79. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 118:1-69.Brongersma, Leo D. 1938. Het belang van anatomisch onderzoek voor de systematiek. E.J. Brill, Leiden. 11pp. (3):267-308.Bulmer, R.N.H.; Menzies, James I.; Parker, Fred. 1975. Kalam classification of reptiles and fishes. Journal of the Polynesian Society. 84 Barbour, Thomas. 1912. A contribution to the zoögeography of the East Indian islands. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 44:1-203.Bustard, H. Robert. 1969. Defensive behavior and locomotion of the Pacific boa, Candoia aspera, with a brief review of head concealment in snakes. Herpetologica. 25(3):164-170.

40

Cameron, Elizabeth E.; Cogger, Harold G. 1992. The herpetofauna of the Weipa Region, Cape York Penin-sula. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum. 7:1-200.Chiszar, David; Weinstein, Scott A.; Smith, Hobart M. 1992. Liquid and dry venom yields from brown tree snakes Boiga irregularis (Merrem). Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society Contributions in Herpetology. 1992:11-13Cogger, Harold G. 1971. The venomous snakes of Australia and Melanesia. Venomous animals and their ven-oms; venomous vertebrates. II.. Academic Press, New York. 35-77pp.Cogger, Harold G. 1972. Snakes. Encyclopaedia of Papua and New Guinea. 2, L-Z:1042-1048Melbourne Univ. Press, Melbourne. 1042-1048pp.Cogger, Harold G. 1981. A biogeographic study of the Arnhem Land herpetofauna. Proceedings of the Mel-bourne Herpetological Symposium 1980. Zoological Board of Victoria, Melbourne. 148-155pp.Conservator of Fauna - Division of Wildlife,. 1979. A report to the Second International Convention on the En-dangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for the period 1977-1978. Wildlife in Papua New Guinea. 79(11):1-21.Dunn, Emmett Reid. 1939. Zoological results of the DenEssisn-Crockett Expedition to the South Pacific for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1937-1938. Part II - Amphibia and Reptilia. Notulae Naturae of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 14:1-2.Edgar, Paul W.; Lilley, Ron P.H. 1993. Herpetofauna survey of Manusela National Park. Natural history of Seram. Intercep Ltd, Andover, United Kingdom. 131-141pp.Ewers, W.H. 1968. Blood parasites of some New Guinea reptiles and Amphibia. Journal of Parasitology. 54(1):172-174.Ewers, W.H. 1973. A host - parasite list of protozoan and helminth parasites of New Guinea animals. Interna-tional Journal for Parasitology. 3:89-110.Forcart, Lothar. 1953. Amphibien und Reptilien von Neugunnea mit der Beschreibung eines neuen Laubfro-sches, Nyctimystes flavomaculata n. sp.. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel. 64(1):58-68.Frith, Clifford; Frith, Dawn. 1987. Australian tropical reptiles and frogs. Tropical Australia Graphics, Queens-land. 70pp.Fritts, Thomas H,. 1988. The brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, a threat to Pacific islands. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report. 88(31):1-36.Gow, Graeme. 1981. Checklist of reptiles and amphibians of the northern sector of the N. T.. Northern Territory Naturalist. 3:16-19.Greene, Harry W. 1989. Ecological, evolutionary, and conservation implications of feeding biology in Old World cat snakes, genus Boiga (Colubridae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, series 4,. 46(8):193-207.Gressitt, J.L.; Nadkarni, Nalini. 1978. Guide to Mt Kaindi: background to montane New Guinea ecology. Wau Ecology Institute Handbook. 5:135Wau Ecology Institute, Wau, Papua New Guinea. 135pp.Groombridge, Brian. 1988. World checklist of threatened amphibians and reptiles. Nature Conservancy Coun-cil, London. viii + 138pp.Harlow, Peter; Shine, Richard. 1992. Food habits and reproductive biology of the Pacific Island boas (Can-doia). Journal of Herpetology. 26(1):60-66.Hedemark, Michael; Hamilton, Steve; Takeuchi, Wayne. 1997. Report on the first Bismarck-Ramu Biological Survey with sociological and logistical comments. Department of Environment and Conservation/United Nations Development Programme - OPS-PNG/93/G31 Biodiversity Conservation and Resource Management Program, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.Hediger, H. 1933. Über die von Herrn Dr. A. Buhler auf der Admiralitatsgruppe und einger benachbarten Inseln gesammelten Reptilien und Amphibien. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel. 44(2):1-25.Hediger, H. 1934. Beitrag zur Herpetologie und Zoogeographie Neu-Britanniens und einiger umliegender Gebi-ete.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik,. 65(5/6):441-582.Inger, Robert F.; Voris, Harold K. 2001. The biogeographical relations of the frogs and snakes of Sundaland. Journal of Biogeography. 28(7):863-891.Iskandar, Djoko T.; Kiauw Nio, Tjan. 1966 [? please check date. The amphibians and reptiles of Sulawesi, with notes on the distribution and chromosomal number of frogs. Proceedings of the First International Con-ference on Eastern Indonesian-Australian Vertebrate Fauna. Published by the Western Australian Museum for

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Lembaga Ilmu Pentegahuan Indonesia (Indonesian Institute of Sciences), Perth. 22-26ppJohnson, Clifford Ray. 1975. Defensive display behaviour in some Australian and Papuan-New Guinean py-gopodid lizards, boid, colubrid and elapid snakes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 56(4):265-282.Johnson, Clifford Ray. 1975. Thermoregulation in the Papuan-New Guinean boid and colubrid snakes, Candoia carinata, Candoia aspera and Boiga irregularis. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 56:283-290.Johnson, David H. 1946. The rat populations of a newly established military base in the Solomon Islands. U.S. Navy Medical Bulletin. 46(10):1628-1632.Kardong, Kenneth V.; Smith, Paul R. 1991. The role of sensory receptors in the predatory behaviour of the brown treesnake Boiga irregularis (Squamata: Colubridae). Journal of Herpetology. 25(2):229-231.Keogh, J. Scott. 1998. Molecular phylogeny of elapid snakes and a consideration of the biogeographic history. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 63:177-203.Kinghorn, J.R. 1928. Herpetology of the Solomon Islands. Records of the Australian Museum. 16(3):123-178.Kinghorn, J.R. 1929. The snakes of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. 198pp.KEssiskau, Karol. 1980. Manus Province: a biophysical resource inventory. Office of Environment and Conser-vation, Waigani, Papua New Guinea. 73pp.Kluge, Arnold G. 1991. Boine snake phylogeny and research cycles. Miscellaneous Publications Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. 178:1-58.Kraus, Fred; AllEssisn, Allen. 2004. New records of reptiles and amphibians from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Herpetological Review. 35:413-418.Kraus, Fred; AllEssisn, Allen. 2004. A new species of Tropidonophis (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae) from D”Entrecasteaux Islands, Papua New Guinea. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 117(3):303-310.Kraus, Fred; Shea, Glenn. 2005. Additional reptile and amphibian range extensions for Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Herpetological Review. 36(4):471-473.Liem, David S. 1978. Results of the Wildlife Division faunal surveys in the Golgol timber area, Madang Prov-ince, Papua New Guinea. Wildlife in Papua New Guinea. 78(15):1-15.Liem, David S.; Haines, Allan K. 1977. The ecological significance and economic importance of the mangrove and estuarine communities of the Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. Environmental Studies Purari River. 3:1-35.Lindgren, Eric. 1975. Papua New Guinea wildlife. Robert Brown and Associates, Port Moresby. 32 [not num-bered]pp.Mackay, Roy D. 1982?. 1975-80 annual report of the trustees of the Wildlife and Bird of Paradise Sanctuary, Baiyer River. Department of Environment and Conservation, Port Moresby. 38pp.Mackay, Roy D. 1985. Baiyer River Sanctuary, Papua New Guinea. 1981-1983 report. Department of Environ-ment and Conservation, Port Moresby. 42pp.McCoy, Michael. 1980. Reptiles of the Solomon Islands. Wau Ecology Institute. Handbook 7, Wau, Papua New Guinea. 82pp.McDowell, Samuel B. 1980. The zoogeography of New Guinea region snakes. McDowell, Samuel B. 1984. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 112. The snakes of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. American Museum Novitates. 2775:1-28..McLain, John M. 1983. Boid snakes of the world. Part 5. Boas and pythons of Australia, New Guinea and the East Indies. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium. 6(10):50-52.Menzies, J. I. 1994. Unnatural distribution of fauna in the east Malesian region. Kitchener, Darrell John;. Suyanto:i-ix, 1-174 Chapter pagination 31-38.Mikua, Charles K.; Menzies, James I. 1974. Animals of Waigani no.1 - snakes. Animals of Waigani. University of Papua New Guinea, Waigani, Papua New Guinea.O’Shea, Mark. 1996. A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. 238pp. Independent Publishing Group PTY LTD.Tyler, Michael J. 1972. An analysis of lower vertebrates faunal relationships of Australia and New Guinea. Bridge and barrier: the natural and cultural history of Torres Strait. Australian National University Research School of Pacific Studies, Tanner, Vasco M. 1951. Pacific Islands herpetology, No. V. Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands: a check list of spe-cies. Great Basin Naturalist. 11(3-4):53-86.

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Zweifel, Richard G. 1973. Reptiles and amphibians. Australian Natural History. 17(12):434-439.Zweifel, Richard G. 1976. Herpetological expedition to New Guinea. National Geographic Research Reports, 1968 Projects. .Zweifel, Richard G. 1984. 7. New Zealand, New Guinea and Lord Howe Island. 7H. Reptiles and Amphibians of Papua New Guinea. Vertebrate zoogeography and evolution in Australasia (animals in space in time). Hespe-rian Press, Carlisle, Western Australia. 1147-1149pp. Department of Biogeography and Geomorphology Publication BG/3, Canberra.

The Lizards31 species of Lizards have been recorded in the literature. As with the Snakes the majority of the re-cords date from the 1800’s.

The Conservation International Rapid Assessment Report listed 12 species. The list included a further 3 species of Sphenomorphus, (jobiensis; maindroni and pratti). None of the Lizards are recorded on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The LizardsID Order Family Genus Species Common Name Distribution

1 Lacertilla2 The Lizards Agamidae Hypsilurus longii widespread3 Agamidae Hypsilurus modestus widespread45 Gekkonidae Gehyra mutilata widespread6 Gekkonidae Gehyra oceanica widespread7 Gekkonidae Gekko villatus widespread8 Gekkonidae Hemidactylus frenatus West NB, probable9 Gekkonidae Lepidodactylus guppyi West NB, probable

10 Gekkonidae Lepidodactylus lugubris widespread11 Gekkonidae Nectus sp widespread15 Pygododidae Lialis jieari rare1617 Scincidae Carlia mysi widespread18 Scincidae Cryptoblepharus poecilopluerus north coasr19 Scincidae Emoia bismarnkensis widespread20 Scincidae Emoia caeruleocauda widespread21 Scincidae Emoia cyanogaster West, East NB22 Scincidae Emoia impor East NB23 Scincidae Emoia jakati widespread24 Scincidae Emoia jamur East NB25 Scincidae Emoia kordoana West, East NB26 Scincidae Eugongylus albofasciolatus north coast27 Scincidae Eugongylus rufescens East NB28 Scincidae Lamprolepis smaragdina widespread29 Scincidae Sphenomorphus simus widespread30 Scincidae Sphenomorphus solomonis widespread31 Scincidae Sphenomorphus wolfi north coast32 Scincidae Tribonolotus annectens East NB35 Varanidae Varanus finsci widespread36 Varanidae Varanus indicus widespread

43

Selected References.

Richards, S.J. in Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2011. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Naka-nai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conservation International. Arlington, VA.Alcala, Angel C.; Brown, Walter C. 1967. Population ecology of the tropical scincoid lizard, Emoia atrocostata, in the Philippines. Copeia. 1967(3):596-604.AllEssisn, Allen. 1996. Zoogeography of amphibians and reptiles of New Guinea and the Pacific region. The origin and evolution of Pacific Island biotas, New Guinea to eastern Polynesia. SPB Academic Publishing, Am-sterdam. 407-436pp.Bauer, Aaron M. 1988. Hypothesis: a geological basis for some herpetofaunal disjunctions in the southwest Pacific, with special reference to Vanuatu. Herpetological Journal. 1:259-263.Boettger, Otto. 1892. Listen von Kriechtieren und Lurchen aus dem tropischen Asien und aus Papuasien. Bericht des Offenbacher Vereins für Naturkunde. 29-32:65-164.Boettger, Otto. 1893. Katalog der Reptilien-Sammlung im Museum der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Frankfurt am Main (Rhynchocephalen, Schildkröten, Krokodile, Eidechsen, Chamäleons). Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft (Gebrüder Kanuer), Frankfurt am Main. x + 140pp.Boettger, Otto. 1895. Liste der Reptilien und Batrachier der Insel Halmaheira nach den Sammlungen Prof. Dr. W. Kükenthal’s. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 18(470/472 :116-121, 129-138.Boettger, Otto. 1900. Die Reptilien und Batrachier. [Kükenthal, Ergebnisse einer zoologischen Forschungsre-ise in den Molukken und Borneo. Zweiter Teil: Wissenschaftliche Reisergebnisse. Band III]. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft. 25(2):323-402.Boettger, Otto. 1900. Die Reptilien und Batrachier. [Kükenthal, Ergebnisse einer zoologischen Forschungsre-ise in den Molukken und Borneo. Zweiter Teil: Wissenschaftliche Reisergebnisse. Band III]. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft. 25(2):323-402.Boulenger, George Albert. 1895. On a collection of reptiles and batrachians from Ferguson Island, D’Entrecasteaux Group, British New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 6,. 16:28-32.Boulenger, George Albert. 1897. List of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Mr. Alfred Everett in Lombok, Flores, Sumba, and Saru, with descriptions of new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 6,. 6 (19):503-509.Boulenger, George Albert. 1897. A catalogue of the reptiles and batrachians of Celebes, with special reference to the collections made by Drs. P. and F. Sarasin in 1893-1896.. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1897:193-237.Boulenger, George Albert. 1903. Report on the batrachians and reptiles. Fasciculii Malayenses, anthropological and zoological results of an expedition to Perak and the Siamese Malay States, 1901-1902, undertaken by Nelson Annandale and Herbert C. Robinson.. 1, Zoology.:131-176University Press, Liverpool. 131-176pp.Brongersma, Leo D. 1930. Sur un geckonidae nouveau, Gehyra leopoldi nov. sp. de la Nouvelle Guinee. Bul-letin Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. 6(11):1-3.Brongersma, Leo D. 1931. Résultats scientifiques du voyage aux Indes Orientales Neerland-aises de LL. AA. RR. le Prince et la Princesse Léopold de Belgique. Reptiles. Mémoires Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. 5(2):3-39.Brongersma, Leo D. 1932. Some notes on the genus Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker. Zoologische Mededelingen (Leiden). 14(4):211-223.Brongersma, Leo D. 1954. Zoölogisch onderzoek in Niew-Guinea. E.J. Brill, Leiden. 52pp.Brown, Walter C. 1957. The distribution of terrestrial reptiles in the islands of the Pacific Basin. Proceedings of the Eighth Pacific Science Congress. Volume 3A, Oceanography and Zoology:1479-1491.Brown, Walter C.; Alcala, Angel C. 1957. Viability of lizard eggs exposed to sea water. Copeia. 1957(1):39-41.Brown, Walter C.; Alcala, Angel C. 1970. The zoogeography of the herpetofauna of the Philippine Islands, a fringing archipelago. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, series 4,. 38:105-130.Bruna, Emilio M., III. 1995. Genetic divergence, morphological stasis, and ecological segregation in a cryptic species complex of Pacific skinks (Emoia). Department of Biology. University of California, San Diego. xi + 59pp.Chou, L.M. 1977. Anatomy, histology and histochemistry of the alimentary canal of Gehyra mutilata (Reptilia,

44

Lacertilia, Gekkonidae). Journal of Herpetology. 11(3):349-357.Chrapliwy, P.S. ; Smith, Hobart M. ; Grant, Chapman. 1961. Systematic status of the geckonid lizard genera Gehyra, Peropus, Hoplodactylus and Naultinus. Herpetologica. 17(1):5-12.Cogger, Harold G.; Sadlier, Ross; Cameron, E. 1983. The terrestrial reptiles of Australia’s island territories. Aust. Natl. Parks Wildl. Serv., Spec. Publ.. Darevsky, Ilya S. 1964. Die Reptilien der Inseln Komodo, Padar und Rintja im Kleinen Sunda-Archipel, Indo-nesien. Senckenbergiana Biologica. 45(3/5):563-576.de Jong, J.K. 1927. Reptiles from Dutch New Guinea. Nova Guinea. 15:296-318.de Rooij, Nelly. 1913. Praeda itineris a L.F. de Beaufort in Archipelago indico facti annis 1909-1910. Reptilien. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde. 19:15-30.de Rooij, Nelly. 1919. Reptilien aus Nord-Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. P. van Kampen und Dr. K. Gjellerup in den Jaren 1910 und 1911. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde. 21:81-95.de Rooy, Nelly. 1909. Reptilien (Eidechsen, Shieldkröten und Krokodile) in Résultats de l’Expédition Scientifique Néerlandaise à la Nouvelle-Guinée en 1903 sous les auspices de Arthur Wichmann. Nova Guinea. 5 (Zool.):375-383.de Rooy, Nelly. 1915. Reptiles. Die Insel Nias bei Sumatra. Martinus Nijhoff, Haag. 282-307pp.de Rooy, Nelly. 1920. Reptiles (Lacertilia, Chelonia and Emydosauria) in Résultats de l’Expédition Scien-tifique Néerlandaise à la Nouvelle-Guinée en 1912 et 1913 sous les auspices de A. Franssen Herderschee. Nova Guinea. 13 (Zool.):133-153.de Rooy, Nelly. 1920. Reptiles (Lacertilia, Chelonia and Emydosauria) in Résultats de l’Expédition Scien-tifique Néerlandaise à la Nouvelle-Guinée en 1912 et 1913 sous les auspices de A. Franssen Herderschee. Nova Guinea. 13 (Zool.):133-153.de Witte, Gaston Fr. 1933. Liste de batraciens et des reptiles d’Extreme-Orient et des Indes Orientales recveil-lis, en 1932, par S.A.R. Le Prince Leopold de Belgique. Bulletin du Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. 9(24):1-8.Dring, J.C.M. 1979. Amphibians and reptiles from northern Trengganu, Malaysia, with descriptions of two new geckos: Cnemapsis and Cyrtodactylus. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology. 34(5):181-241.Edgar, Paul W.; Lilley, Ron P.H. 1993. Herpetofauna survey of Manusela National Park. Natural history of Seram. Intercep Ltd, Andover, United Kingdom. 131-141pp.Fischthal, Jacob H.; Kuntz, Robert E. 1967. Digenetic trematodes of amphibians and reptiles from Fiji, New Hebrides and British Solomon Islands. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society. 34(2):244-251.Fisher, Robert N. 1997. Dispersal and evolution of the Pacific Basin gekkonid lizards Gehyra oceanica and Gehyra mutilata. Evolution. 51(3):906-921.Henkel, Friedrich-Wilhelm; Schmidt, Wolfgang. 1995. Geckoes: biology, husbandry, and reproduction. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 237pp.Ineich, Ivan. 1995. [Review of] Das Tierreich. The animal kingdom. Part 109. Family Gekkonidae (Reptilia, Sauria) I. Australia and Oceania. Aaron M. Bauer, editor, this volume. With contributions from Klaus Henle. 1994. Verlag Walter de Gruyter, Berlin and New York, . Herpetological Review. 26(3):159-162.Irschick, Duncan, J.; Austin, Christopher, C.; Petren, Ken; Fisher, Robert, N.; Losos, Jonathan, B.; Ellers, Olaf. 1996. A comparative analysis of clinging ability among pad-bearing lizards. Biological Journal of the Lin-nean Society. 59(1):21-35.Iskandar, Djoko T.; Kiauw Nio, Tjan. 1966. The amphibians and reptiles of Sulawesi, with notes on the distri-bution and chromosomal number of frogs. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Eastern Indone-sian-Australian Vertebrate Fauna. Published by the Western Australian Museum for Lembaga Ilmu Pentegahuan Indonesia (Indonesian Institute of Sciences), Perth. 22-26pp.King, Max; Horner, Paul. 1989. Karyotypic evolution in Gehyra (Gekkonidae: Reptilia). V. A new species from Papua New Guinea and morphometrics of Gehyra oceanica (Lesson). Beagle. 6(1):169-178.King, Max; Sadlier, Ross; Horner, Paul. 1989. A note on the status of Gehyra baliola (Duméril and Duméril, 1851) in Australia. Beagle. 6(1):163-167.KEssiskau, Karol. 1974. Fauna survey of Manus District. Science in New Guinea. 2(2):172-175.KEssiskau, Karol. 1980. Manus Province: a biophysical resource inventory. Office of Environment and Conser-vation, Waigani, Papua New Guinea. 73pp.

45

Kopstein, Felix. 1927. Die Reptilienfauna der Sula-Inseln. Treubia. 9(4):437-446.Kopstein, Felix. 1930. Herpetologische Notizen, III. Reptilien des östlichen Preanger (West Java). Treubia. 12(3-4):273-276.Kraus, Fred. 2005. The genus Nactus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae): a phylogenetic analysis and description of two new species from the Papuan region. Zootaxa. 1061:1-28.Kraus, Fred; AllEssisn, Allen. 2004. New records of reptiles and amphibians from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Herpetological Review. 35:413-418.Kraus, Fred; Shea, Glenn. 2005. Additional reptile and amphibian range extensions for Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Herpetological Review. 36(4):471-473.Kurniati, Hellen. 1996. Keanekaragaman herpetofauna Cagar Alam Pegunungan Cyclops daerah punggung utara. Laporan teknik proyek penelitian, pengembangan dan pendayagunaan biota darat tahun 1995/1996. Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Biologi, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Bogor, Indonesia. 498-503pp.Loveridge, Arthur. 1948. New Guinean reptiles and amphibians in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and the United States National Museum. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 101(2):305-430.Manthey, Ulrich; Denzer, Wolfgang. 2004. A revision of the Melanesian - Australian angle head lizards of the Genus Hypsilurus (Sauria: Agamidae: Amphibolurinae) with description of four new species and one subspecies. Hamadryad. McCoid, Michael J.; Hensley, Rebecca A. 1991. Pseudocopulation in Lepidodactylus lugubris. Herpetological Review. 22(1):8-9.McCoy, Michael. 1980. Reptiles of the Solomon Islands. Wau Ecology Institute. Handbook 7, Wau, Papua New Guinea. 82pp.Tyler, Michael J. 1972. An analysis of lower vertebrates faunal relationships of Australia and New Guinea. Bridge and barrier: the natural and cultural history of Torres Strait. Australian National University Research School of Pacific Studies, Department of Biogeography and Geomorphology Publication BG/3, Canberra.Zweifel, Richard G. 1980. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 103. Frogs and lizards from the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 165:387-434, figures 1-14, 1 table.

The Crocodiles.

The two Papua New Guinea species (C. novaeguineae and C. porosus) are not recorded from New Britain but are almost certain to be represented as they have been seen by coastal villagers in the Mangrove Forests and estuaries.

The CrocodilesID Order Family Genus Species Distribution

Crocodiles

1 Crocodylia Crocodylidae Crocodylus novaeguineae no data, probable2 Crocodylidae Crocodylus porosus no data, probable

The Turtles.

The marine turtles have been noted by the local coastal population and probably include the Green Turtle, Cheo-nia mydid and the Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta carreta. It is also possible that the Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricate and the Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea may frequent the Nakanai beaches. As far as is known, there are no records of fresh water Turtles from the Nakanai Mountains.

The total number of Reptiles estimated is 55.

46

The AmphibiansThe Frogs30 Frogs have been confirmed. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species include 8 (LC) least concern; 10 (DD) data deficient and 2 (VU) Vul-nerable. 6- are classified as endemic and can only be found in the Nakanai Mountains. The Conservation International expedition 2009 confirmed 23 species with 4 frogs completely new to science and a further 1 which requires further studies.

Amphibia

ID Or-der Family Genus Species Common

Name

IUCN Red List

Distribution

Frogs1 Anura Bufonidae Bufo marinus Marine Toad,

alienwide spread

2 Hylidae Litoria Sp. Nov IC report3 Hylidae Litoria bicolor wide spread4 Hylidae Litoria lodesdema IC report5 Hylidae Litoria infrafrenata Giant, White

Lipped Tree Frog

LC wide spread

6 Hylidae Litoria thesaurensis LC wide spread IC report

7 Microhylidae Austrochaperina novaebritanniae VU IC report8 Microhylidae Oreophryne brachypus LC wide spread IC

report9 Ceratobatrachidae Batrachylodes Sp Nov IC report

10 Ceratobatrachidae Dicodeles guppyi LC wide spread IC report

11 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis adiastolus DD wide spread IC report

12 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis akarithyma VU en-demic

wide spread IC report

13 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis boulengeri LC en-demic

wide spread IC report

14 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis bufonulus DD IC report

15 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis browni LC en-demic

Kol Mountains

16 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis caesiops IC report

17 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis gilliardi DD en-demic

wide spread IC report

18 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis macrosceles DD en-demic

wide spread IC report

19 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis mamusiorum DD wide spread IC report

20 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis mimicus DD wide spread

21 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis magnus wide spread

22 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis Nakanaiorum DD IC report

23 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis nexipus DD IC report

24 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis rhipiphalca DD wide spread

47

Amphibia

ID Or-der Family Genus Species Common

Name

IUCN Red List

Distribution

25 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis schmidti LC wide spread IC report

26 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis sulcatus DD IC report

27 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis Sp. Nov1 IC report28 Ceratobatrachidae Platymantis Sp.Nov2 IC report

29 Ranidae Rana daemeli Water Frog, Wood Frog

LC wide spread

30 Ranidae Rana novaebritanniae IC report

Selected ReferencesRichards, S.J. in Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2011. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Naka-nai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conservation International. Arlington, VA.AllEssisn, Allen. 1993. Biodiversity and conservation of the fishes, amphibians, and reptiles of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea conservation needs assessment. Volume 2. 2:157-225The Biodiversity Support Pro-gram, Washington, D.C.. 157-225pp.Barker, John; Grigg, Gordon. 1977. A field guide to Australian frogs. Rigby Limited, Adelaide. 229pp.Brown, Walter C.; Menzies, James I. 1978 (1979). A new Platymantis (Amphibia: Ranidae) from New Ireland with notes on the amphibians of the Bismarck Archipelago. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 91(4):965-971.Brown, Walter C.; Tyler, Michael J. 1968. Frogs of the genus Platymantis (Ranidae) from New Britain with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 81:69-86.Cameron, Elizabeth E.; Cogger, Harold G. 1992. The herpetofauna of the Weipa Region, Cape York Penin-sula. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum. 7:1-200.Cogger, Harold G. 1981. A biogeographic study of the Arnhem Land herpetofauna. Proceedings of the Mel-bourne Herpetological Symposium 1980. Zoological Board of Victoria, Melbourne. 148-155pp.Davies, Margaret. 1978. Variation in the cranial osteology of the Australopapuan hylid frog Litoria infrafrenata. Records of the South Australian Museum. 17(22):337-345.Davies, Margaret. 1978. Variation in the cranial osteology of the Australopapuan hylid frog Litoria infrafrenata. Records of the South Australian Museum. 17(22):337-345.Frith, Clifford; Frith, Dawn. 1987. Australian tropical reptiles and frogs. Tropical Australia Graphics, Queens-land. 70pp.Frost, D. 1985. Amphibian species of the world, a taxonomic and geographic reference. Allen Press and The As-sociation of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. 732pp.Gorham, Stanley W. 1974. Checklist of world amphibians. New Brunswick Museum, St. John, New Brunswick. 173pp.Zweifel, Richard G.; Tyler, Michael J. 1982. Amphibia of New Guinea. Biogeography and ecology of New Guinea. 42:759-801Dr W. Junk, The Hague. 759-801ppGow, Graeme. 1981. Checklist of reptiles and amphibians of the northern sector of the N. T.. Northern Territory Naturalist. 3:16-19.Ganther, Rainer. 2004. Two new treefrog species of the genus Litoria (Anura: Hylidae) from the west of New Guinea. Zoologische Abhandlungen (Dresden. 54:163-175.Johnston, Gregory R.; Richards, Stephen J. 1994. A new species of Litoria (Anura: Hylidae) from New Guinea and a redefinition of Litoria leucova (Tyler, 1968). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 37(1):273-279.King, Max. 1980. A cytotaxonomic analysis of Australian hylid frogs of the genus Litoria. Proceedings of the Mellbourne Herpetological Symposium. Zoological Board of Victoria [Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens], Melbourne. 169-175pp.Kraus, Fred; AllEssisn, Allen. 2004. A new species of Litoria (Anura: Hylidae) from southeastern New Guinea.

48

Herpetologica. 60(1):97-103.Kraus, Fred; AllEssisn, Allen. 2004. Two new treefrogs from Normanby Island, Papua New Guinea. Journal of Herpetology. 38(2):197-207.Kuramoto, Mitsuru. 1990. A list of chromosome numbers of anuran amphibians. Bulletin of Fukuoka Univer-sity of Education. 39(3):83-127.Liem, David S. 1978. Results of the Wildlife Division faunal surveys in the Golgol timber area, Madang Prov-ince, Papua New Guinea. Wildlife in Papua New Guinea. 78(15):1-15.Martin, Angus A. 1967. Australian anuran life histories: some evolutionary and ecological aspects. Australian inland waters and their fauna. Australian National University Press, Canberra. 175-191pp.Menzies, James I. 1976. Handbook of common New Guinea frogs. Wau Ecology Institute, Handbook 1, Wau, Papua New Guinea. 74pp.Menzies, James I. 1993. Systematics of Litoria iris (Anura: Hylidae) and its allies in New Guinea and a note on sexual dimorphism in the group. Aust. J. Zool.. 41:225-255.Menzies, James I.; Tippett, Joanna. 1976. Chromosome numbers of Papuan hylid frogs and the karyotype of Litoria infrafrenata (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae). Journal of Herpetology. 10(3):167-173.Tyler, Michael J. 1972. Endochondral ossification of the hyoid plate in Australo-Papuan hylid frogs. Zoolo-gischer Anzeiger. 189(5-6):331-336.Tyler, Michael J. 1976. Comparative osteology and the pelvic girdle of Australian frogs and a description of a new fossil genus. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 100(1):3-14.Tyler, Michael J. 1978. The systematic status of the Aru Islands microhylid frog genys Microbatrachus Roux. Journal of Natural History. 12(4):457-460.Tyler, Michael J. 1999. Distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles. Patterns of distribution of amphibians. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 541-563pp.Tyler, Michael J.; Davies, Margaret. 1978. Phylogenetic relationships of Australian hyline and Neotropical phyllomedusine frogs of the family Hylidae. Herpetologica. 34(2):219-224.Tyler, Michael J.; Davies, Margaret. 1978. Species-groups within the Australopapuan frog genus Litoria Ts-chudi. Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary Series,. 63:1-47.Tyler, Michael J.; Davies, Margaret; Aplin, K. 1986. A new stream dwelling species of Litoria (Anura: Hyli-dae) from New Guinea. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 110(2):63-67.Tyler, Michael J.; Davies, Margaret; Martin, Angus A. 1977. A new species of large green frog from northern Western Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 101(5):133-138.Tyler, Michael J.; Lungershausen, K. 1986. The ultrastructure of male nuptial pads in some Australopapuan frogs. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 110(1):37-41.Tyler, Michael J.; Parker, Fred. 1972. Additions to the hylid frog fauna of New Guinea, with descriptions of a new species, Litoria timida. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 96(3):157-163.Tyler, Michael J.; Watson, G.F.; Martin, Angus A. 1982. The Amphibia: diversity and distribution. Ecological biogeography of Australia. Dr. W. Junk, The Hague. 1277-1301pp.Zug, George R.; Lindgren, Eric; Pippet, John R. 1975. Distribution and ecology of the marine toad, Bufo marinus, in Papua New Guinea. Pacific Science. 29(1):31-50.Zweifel, Richard G.; Tyler, Michael J. 1982. Amphibia of New Guinea. Biogeography and ecology of New Guinea. 42:759-801Dr W. Junk, The Hague. 759-801pp.

D.W.Gill

49

Appendix 6

Mageni Cave Atlas

50

entra

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58

Index

Mammals 34

Cloven-Hoofed Ungulates 36

Marsupials 36

Rodents 36

Reptiles 38

Lizards 42

Snakes 38

Sponsorship 22

clothing 22

Lighting 22

Safety 22

Surveying 22

Training 22

Surveys

Downstream Ora River Cave 7

Little Ora River Cave 10

Mageni Cave Atlas 49

Ora River Caves 13

Phantom Pot 16

Upstream Ora River Cave 12

TTeam members

Andrew James Eavis 2

Andy Eavis 3, 4

Dave Nixon 3

David Clucas 2

David Nixon 2

David W Gill 2

James Alker 2, 3

Jean-Paul Sounier 2

Matt Oliphant 2

Nancy Pistole 2

Prof. Herbert Laeger 2

Robbie Shone 2, 4

Stephen Alvarez 2

Tom Chapman 2

Training 22

CCave

Challenger Pot 18

Downstream Ora River Cave 7, 9

Little Ora River Cave 9

Mageni 19

Ora Resurgence 17

Ora River Cave 6

Phantom Pot 14

Pulse Pot 18

Triosaurus Pot 18

Upstream Ora River Cave 12

Contacts 25

EEquipment 21

Kkarst 2, 14, 17, 18, 26, 27

MMeteorology 23

Rainfall 24

Temperature and humidity 24

NNakanai Mountains 1, 3

Nakanai Mountains Conservation Area 1, 26–27

OOra Base Camp 4, 5

Ora village 3, 4, 5

PPhantom Pot 14–15

SSpecies

Amphibians 46

Frogs 46

The Ora Dolines - Photo: © Dave Clucas