'Sky island' rainforest saved by new discoveries

The BBC's Jonah Fisher follows scientists up into Mabu, southern Africa's largest rainforest.

Twenty years ago, Mabu was a secret to all but the locals, 'discovered' for the outside world by Prof Julian Bayliss in 2004 while he was surveying satellite images of northern Mozambique and came across a previously unknown patch of dark green.

Since then, more than 25 news species of animal have been discovered, adapted to Mabu's unique environment, including butterflies, bats, crabs and a chameleon.

Scientists have been in a "race against time" to reveal Mabu's secrets in the hope that they would lead to further protections for the forest, which has now been named a conservation area.

(Image: A man holds a small green reptile on his thumb Credit: Tony Jolliffe)