Papua's "lost world" of wildlife

How wonderfully amazing it was to hear and read about the "lost world" of wildlife on the island of Papua. Papua is the western side of an island in far eastern Indonesia. The eastern half of the island is known as New Guinea. Reuters News Service reports that the highest summit of the Foja Mountains is 2,200 meters high. In the area under discussion the interior is 3,000 square kilometers of entirely untouched old growth tropical forest, supposedly never visited by humans! The exterior area of 7,500 sq.km. has been lightly visited but remains under original old growth forest cover.

This area is approximately the size of Luxembourg or the state of Rhode Island. The indigenous people do not enter the pristine interior. So much is yet unknown about this area, but so much is starting to come to light. Scientists and researchers are saying that they have just scratched the surface of what this area of the world holds. Some are saying it is, to them, like the Garden of Eden.

Just what has been discovered thus far? Forty (40) or more species of mammals have been discovered, including 6 types of kangaroos. Two-hundred-twenty-five (225) or more species of birds have been discovered, including 13 species of birds of paradise! Sixty (60) or more species of frogs have been discovered, including 20 species new to science. Five-hundred-fifty (550) or more species of plants have been discovered, 20 species of which are new to science. One-hundred-fifty (150) or more species of butterflies have been discovered, including 4 new species and several subspecies.

Additionally, a "six-wired bird of paradise" which appeared in the 19th century was found, but its' home had been previously unknown. A "Great White" Rhododendron, a species yet to be described, possibly the largest of any rhododendron species, was found. The "long-beaked echidna" a very rare and primitive egg-laying mammal that is little-known, was found. A "new frog" species was found. It is as yet undescribed.

It was reported that large mammals that have been hunted to near extinction elsewhere were in this area in abundance! (All of this from The Jakarta Post, p.1, 08 Feb. 2006).

When God finished His work of creation, the Bible says, "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31). Everything was "good." The earth does not exist so that man may worship it. The earth is not to be man's object of worship. It is part of the creation, not the Creator. The One whom we are to worship is the Creator (God). And, we are taught to worship Him "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24; Exodus 20:3-6). God made the earth for man to use, to plow, to cultivate; and rivers, lakes, and seas from which to find his food for physical sustenance. As good stewards of what God has given for man to use, man should use with wisdom and care.

The earth has many wonders of nature that man may enjoy and properly use. Reports of new findings are truly exciting! "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it" (Deuteronomy 10:14). "The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28).

Have a great day! spw