Why
What is the purpose of the website and socialisation?
In the last 10 years, nearly 200 species new to science have been discovered and described by Hungarian zoologists from the island of Batanta. This level of zoological exploration has not been carried out by Hungarian experts in decades, and on their own. They have not received any public or Community funding. Only a few voluntary supporters have helped.
With this website and by presenting the work and socialising the Batanta project, we want to encourage people to help us achieve our goal by making small and large donations. In other words, the exploration, knowledge, description and, last but not least, the conservation of Batanta's wildlife.
With this website and by presenting the work and socialising the Batanta project, we want to encourage people to help us achieve our goal by making small and large donations. In other words, the exploration, knowledge, description and, last but not least, the conservation of Batanta's wildlife.
Why in Batanta?
Nature, the wildlife, has only preserved its original natural diversity in a few places. Most of New Guinea's nearly 9 islands (including Batanta) are still like this.
Given the size of the island, the wildlife of Batanta is something that can be explored and discovered - at least within a generation or two. Moreover, due to its natural and economic geography (steep hillsides, deep river valleys, impenetrable vegetation, small population, coastal lifestyle, lack of mineral resources), it is likely to remain in its current semi-natural state for decades.
Given the size of the island, the wildlife of Batanta is something that can be explored and discovered - at least within a generation or two. Moreover, due to its natural and economic geography (steep hillsides, deep river valleys, impenetrable vegetation, small population, coastal lifestyle, lack of mineral resources), it is likely to remain in its current semi-natural state for decades.
So why are we doing it?
Our planet is currently experiencing the sixth wave of extinction. Thousands, tens of thousands of animal (and plant) species are disappearing, becoming extinct. Many of them without us even knowing it. Zoologists, conservationists are practically racing against time (the rate of extinction) trying to find, describe and characterise species that have not been found before. In this work we are trying to do a small "slice" of the work, to discover, know and describe the wildlife of the hitherto undisturbed island of Batanta. Our aim is to preserve the integrity of the island by getting to know its natural fauna.
Preserving the natural values of a pristine area (such as the island of Batanta) is only possible by exploring and learning about them. The first step is always to know the key species and the most important communities in the area. On the island of Batanta, these species are linked to the forest and the water, and most of them are unknown to science. Of course, it is also important to have specialists with the knowledge of the fauna groups we are looking for. This is why we have chosen to focus our studies on beetles, land snails, caddisflies, dragonflies and freshwater fish.
Preserving the natural values of a pristine area (such as the island of Batanta) is only possible by exploring and learning about them. The first step is always to know the key species and the most important communities in the area. On the island of Batanta, these species are linked to the forest and the water, and most of them are unknown to science. Of course, it is also important to have specialists with the knowledge of the fauna groups we are looking for. This is why we have chosen to focus our studies on beetles, land snails, caddisflies, dragonflies and freshwater fish.