Woohoo: New studies document the discovery of more than 1000 new species of plants and animals in a region of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya.
Experts say that because these lifeforms are unique to this relatively small region, preservation of these lands is vastly important to the conservation movement made popular by the resurgance of the Ace Ventura movies. The troubled nations that house this region are now receiving the attention of environmental groups who are clearly more concerned with saving 96 animals, 832 plants and hundreds of invertebrates that they learned existed last week than the social and political unrest that has led to the deaths of scores of impoverished Africans.
While we have only just discovered these organisms, scientists who have been researching this new mammal (et al.) mecca say that many of these species have ancient lineage, indicated by their genetic make up. This provides a rare opportunity to uncover unknown facts about our own physiology through the study of primates such as the bushbaby, an animal about whom not much is known (except for testimonials from local tribespeople, who say that they are delicious).
While there is much excitement within the scientific community, environmental NGOs worldwide are exasperated that we only now came upon these species that may have had a better chance of survival if we had begun preservation efforts sooner. They will have to accept the reality that they were there for millions of years and we only heard about them last week, providing further evidence that we know so little about this planet we’re determined we can save.
