There does seem to be an endemic biota of this mountain range. Forty species is not extraordinary in the raw sense, but [it is extraordinary] that they all came from one place, and we believe that's just the tip of the iceberg. |
There was not a single trail, no sign of civilization, no sign of even local communities ever having been there. |
They were as astounded as we were at how isolated it was. As far as they knew, neither of their clans had ever been to the area. |
This is one of the last new places to go. This mountain range generates its own species, a little bit like the Galapagos. |
This mountain range is big enough and complex enough to actually be a generator of new species. It's actually producing new diversity. |
We had forgotten it even existed. |
We just scratched the surface. Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery. |
We stood in awe as the male romped about in the saplings around our entrance trail, flicking his wings and white flank plumes, and whistling his sweet two-note song for the female-plumaged bird. I was too spellbound to go get my camera. |
We've only scratched the surface. |