PAPUA NEW GUINEA SNAKEBITE PROJECT
THE FISHING EXPEDITION

When the girls were settled at a fishing hole Ben and I took off on either side of the river to search for snakes. The habitat I walked through was open and flat with occasional steep hills and many downed trees, under which I searched, without luck.

The open wooded habitat alongside the river

While we were away Kevin and his family sighted a large snake and were calling us as they watched it ascend a tree. When we got back and learned we had missed such a prize we were disappointed. Kevin re-found the tree and climbed it to cut down a branch and Ben captured the 2.0 m Amethystine python (Morelia amethistina).

Amethystine python Morelia amethistina

We also saw some stunning butterflies including several electric blue Birdwing butterflies on the river.

A Birdwing butterfly at rest on the shingle click on the image to see what it looked like in flight

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