Wednesday 29th October, from the ground base camp.

Laurent and Marc (ichthyologists), accompanied by Jean-Marc (a photographer) and Olivier (a filmmaker), came back tonight at nightfall. Despite their tiredness, they told us all about their adventures. They travelled about 60 kilometres on foot across very rugged terrain to reach three lakes that are not easily accessible and rarely visited by Papuans. They had to chop their way through the forest with machetes.

The green hell – Copyright : J.M. Porte / IRD

The first lake had none of the fish they were looking for. The second lake was almost dry. However, they were rewarded for their efforts when they reached the third lake. Among the inhabitants of its crystalline waters were rainbow fish… as well as an enormous crocodile.

The second lake – Copyright : J.M. Porte / IRD

The third lake – Copyright : J.M. Porte / IRD

On their way they came across tree kangaroos, deer, cassowaries, as well as crowned pigeons–or Goura (gigantic blue pigeons whose weight can reach up to 5kg)

(The beginning of the text was translated by Paola Vianez, and the end of the text was translated by Marion Babin & Lucie Reixach, L2 SVC students–Life & Earth Sciences–UM2, France)