Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

World Service,3 mins

'Sky island' rainforest saved by new discoveries

Newshour

Available for over a year

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)

Programme Website
More episodes