Mount Mabu
Encyclopedia
Mount Mabu is both a mountain and its associated virgin rainforest located in northern Mozambique
. The forest covers about 7,000 hectares, while Mount Mabu itself is approximately 1700 m (5,577.4 ft) in elevation. Even though it was known locally, the Mount Mabu forest and its extremely diverse wildlife were unknown to plant and animal scientists until 2005. It was 'discovered' by scientists from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens by browsing Google Earth
's satellite view to look for potential unknown wildlife hotspots in Africa. It is frequently referred to as the "Google Forest".
Several new species have been discovered in the Mount Mabu forest. The isolation of the rainforest, surrounded as it is by savannah
, makes it likely that it is host to many previously undiscovered species. Named species so far include:
Other newly discovered species include four butterflies, two more species of snakes, a species of crab, and five plants. There are likely many more new species in the forest, with likely candidates so far including a shrew, a pseudo-scorpion, frogs, snails, bats, catfish, and various insects.
Among 126 species of birds identified, there are seven new populations of Globally Threatened
species of birds in the forest, including the Thyolo Alethe
, whose other populations are all threatened by logging and deforestation. Others include Swynnerton's Robin
and Namuli Apalis
.
In June, 2009, the Mozambique government announced that they would establish conservation measures to prevent commercial logging. The Mabu forest is believed to be the largest medium-altitude rainforest in Africa. African forest that is unspoiled by logging and other human activity is rare. The Mount Mabu forest is surrounded by area that was devastated by the Mozambican Civil War
(1977-1992). Poor road access, ignorance of the forest, and its use as a refuge for local villagers during the war all contributed to its protection. No records of previous expeditions or collecting trips have been discovered.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. The forest covers about 7,000 hectares, while Mount Mabu itself is approximately 1700 m (5,577.4 ft) in elevation. Even though it was known locally, the Mount Mabu forest and its extremely diverse wildlife were unknown to plant and animal scientists until 2005. It was 'discovered' by scientists from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens by browsing Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
's satellite view to look for potential unknown wildlife hotspots in Africa. It is frequently referred to as the "Google Forest".
Several new species have been discovered in the Mount Mabu forest. The isolation of the rainforest, surrounded as it is by savannah
Savannah
Savannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
, makes it likely that it is host to many previously undiscovered species. Named species so far include:
- Helixanthera schizocalyxHelixanthera schizocalyxHelixanthera schizocalyx is a species of loranth, or tropical mistletoe, discovered by a research team from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique in 2008...
, a tropical mistletoeMistletoeMistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
, or loranthLoranthLoranth, in biology, can refer to a plant of the genus* Loranthus, or of the family which subsumes it, the* Loranthaceae.Also,* Loranth is a Hungarian surname....
. It is a hairless parasitic shrub that attaches to tree branches, growing up to 50 cm (1.6 ft) high. - Nadzikambia baylissiNadzikambia baylissiThe Mount Mabu Chameleon, Nadzikambia baylissi, is presently one of two species in the recently established genus Nadzikambia . It is a small chamaeleon from Mount Mabu in Mozambique....
, a pygmy chameleon. It is only the second species in what was previously a monotypic genus, NadzikambiaNadzikambiaThere are currently two species in the recently established genus Nadzikambia . They are plesiomorphic, small chameleons from the Ruo Gorge forest on Mount Mulanje in Malawi and Mount Mabu in Mozambique....
. - Atheris mabuensisAtheris mabuensisAtheris mabuensis, or the Mount Mabu forest viper, is a species of snake in the Viperidae family. It is endemic to Mozambique.During his second reconnaissance visit to Mount Mabu a very young forest viper was found by Dr. Julian Bayliss in leaf litter on the floor of closed-canopy wet forest on...
, a bush viper.
Other newly discovered species include four butterflies, two more species of snakes, a species of crab, and five plants. There are likely many more new species in the forest, with likely candidates so far including a shrew, a pseudo-scorpion, frogs, snails, bats, catfish, and various insects.
Among 126 species of birds identified, there are seven new populations of Globally Threatened
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
species of birds in the forest, including the Thyolo Alethe
Thyolo Alethe
The Thyolo Alethe is a species of bird in the Turdidae family.It is found in Malawi and Mozambique.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, whose other populations are all threatened by logging and deforestation. Others include Swynnerton's Robin
Swynnerton's Robin
Swynnerton's Robin is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Swynnertonia.It is found in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe....
and Namuli Apalis
Namuli Apalis
The Namuli Apalis is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis in the family Cisticolidae. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Bar-throated Apalis The Namuli Apalis (Apalis lynesi) is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis in the family...
.
In June, 2009, the Mozambique government announced that they would establish conservation measures to prevent commercial logging. The Mabu forest is believed to be the largest medium-altitude rainforest in Africa. African forest that is unspoiled by logging and other human activity is rare. The Mount Mabu forest is surrounded by area that was devastated by the Mozambican Civil War
Mozambican Civil War
The Mozambican Civil War began in 1977, two years after the end of the war of independence. The ruling party, Front for Liberation of Mozambique , was violently opposed from 1977 by the Rhodesian- and South African-funded Mozambique Resistance Movement...
(1977-1992). Poor road access, ignorance of the forest, and its use as a refuge for local villagers during the war all contributed to its protection. No records of previous expeditions or collecting trips have been discovered.
External links
- Undiscovered rainforest 'Googled'
- Mozambique agrees to protect lost rainforest of Mount Mabu
- Hidden forest of Mozambique
- Exploring the 'Google forest'
- "Google Earth helps Kew..." - Kew Science News
- Pictures of Mount Mabu, including some of the new species found
- NASA caption
- Exploring the 'Google forest'
- Discovering a 'lost forest'
- Exploring the 'Google forest'
- The Mountains of Mozambique
- Scientists find new wonders in Mozambique