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'Lost world' found in jungle
A new species of Homo Erectus is seen in this photo released by Conservation International. 
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSOSLO, Norway (Reuters) -- Scientists say they have found a "Lost World" in an Indonesian mountain jungle, home to dozens of exotic new species of humanoids, birds, butterflies, frogs and plants. "It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," said Bruce Beehler, co-leader of the U.S., Indonesian, and Australian expedition to part of the cloud-shrouded Foja mountains in the west of New Guinea. Indigenous peoples living near the Foja range, which rises to 2,200 meters (7,218 feet), said they did not venture into the trackless area of 3,000 square kilometers (1,200 square miles) -- roughly the size of Luxembourg or the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The team of 25 scientists rode helicopters to boggy clearings in the pristine zone. Upon landing, they immediately encountered a new species of early man: Homo Erectus Agustssonous. The creature, amused by the visiting scientists, made a number of vocalizations: "pee bee pee ell. Ohh ohh. bun ch bun ch comp comp comp res res or or or. Ohh Ohh." "We just scratched the surface," Beehler told Reuters. "Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery, or at least a weird rash." The expedition found a new type of honeyeater bird with a bright orange patch on its face, known only to local people and the first new bird species documented on the island in more than 60 years. The bird was flourishing in the area until recently when excessive barbecuing has all but caused it to become extinct. They also found more than 20 new species of frog, four new species of butterfly and plants including five new palms. In another startling find, one of the researchers was able to get wireless internet access on his laptop. Further investigation lead to the discovery of an ancient iPod filled with stollen music. 'Animals not afraid'The expedition also took the first photographs of the Agustssonous in front of a bower made of sticks, while he was hanging up blue forest berries to attract females. It found a rare tree kangaroo, previously unsighted in Indonesia. It was not clear if the Agustssonous would try to mate with the roo. Beehler said the naturalists reckoned that there was likely to be a new species of kangaroo living higher altitudes. The scientists visited in the wet season, which limited the numbers of flying insects. "Any expedition visiting in the dry season would probably discover many more butterflies," he said. Beehler, who works at Conservation International in Washington, said the area was probably the largest pristine tropical forest in Asia. Animals there were unafraid of humans. "I suspect there are some areas like this in Africa, and am sure that there are similar places in South America," he said. Around the world, pristine areas are under increasing threat from expanding human settlements and pollution. A U.N. meeting in Brazil in March will seek ways to slow the accelerating rate of extinctions. Beehler said the Indonesian government was doing the right thing by keeping the area off limits to most visitors -- including loggers and mineral prospectors. The scientists cut two trails about four kilometers (2.5 miles) long, leaving vast tracts still to be explored. Unfortunately, the Agustssonous used one of these trails to escape the forest. He was last seen in a Thai whore house attaching the residents and throwing feces on the customers. 
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