From:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/...t.ap/index.html

"Researchers in a remote jungle in Indonesia have discovered a giant rat and a tiny possum that are apparently new to science, underscoring the stunning biodiversity of the Southeast Asian nation, scientists said Monday.

Unearthing new species of mammals in the 21st century is considered very rare. The discoveries by a team of American and Indonesian scientists are being studied further to confirm their status.

The animals were found in the Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province in a June expedition, said U.S.-based Conservation International, which organized the trip along with the Indonesian Institute of Science.

"The giant rat is about five times the size of a typical city rat," said Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."

The possum was described as "one of the worlds smallest marsupials."

A 2006 expedition to the same stretch of jungle -- dubbed by Conservation International as a "Lost World" because until then humans had rarely visited it -- unearthed scores of exotic new species of palms, butterflies and palms.

Papua has some of the world's largest tracts of rainforest, but like elsewhere in Indonesia they are being ravaged by illegal logging. Scientists said last year that the Foja area was not under immediate threat, largely because it was so remote.

"It's comforting to know that there is a place on Earth so isolated that it remains the absolute realm of wild nature," said expedition leader Bruce Beehler. "We were pleased to see that this little piece of Eden remains as pristine and enchanting as it was when we first visited."

Who likes rats?

"Unearthing new species of mammals in the 21st century is considered very rare." Is this becuase not as many people are looking?

It is also the fact that we have not yet covered every inch of this planet.

I most certainly concur with you on that one.

I wonder how long that will last

Some are !

I hope it lasts for a very very long time ..

Well now that humanity has found a nice little untouched place on earth, WE have to forcefully invade it, destory the species/sell them for food, pets, or just annoyances, and then call it good.

Of course e have to....what would we do for fun if we did not do that

Attack the protesters with the giant rats? OOOO replacement for german sheps. ATTACK RATS

Amazing find, although it dident look 5 times the size of a normal rat.

Sorry if I upset anyone who dislikes rats.... but he looked really coot!!!

not too big. i've seen like that in my backyard

oh boy they found a big rat. They could go to Newyork city and find big rats in the alleyways

So have I! Confused the hell out of me!

this doesn't surprise me at all.. It's because there are still many uncharted areas here on our planet. and here we are aiming for the stars .

I often hear people refer to these uncharted areas, but I never know (even rather vaguely) what areas are being referred to. Anyone feel like enlightening me?

areas that we thought we already gone through and discovered.

Has anyone noticed that the rat looks extremely fuzzy and cuddly?

We are finding another planet to screw up, we cant just die on planet, we need MORE!!!!

haha. yeah well.. true.. wait till we learn how to terraform.