Expedition in New Guinea
A student seeks a rare creature in the rainforest.
Jack Bushong ’25 embarked on an expedition to try to find the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus magri), whose range is restricted to its namesake mountains in Indonesian New Guinea. Although he did not end up locating the tree kangaroo, the trip led to the discovery of three putative new frog species and two undescribed taxa of birds. His group also extended the known range of several bird species and a ringtail possum species by more than 100 miles. Read about his journey in the March-April 2025 issue.
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Wasior
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A six-hour boat ride on a fisherman's skiff led to the village of Wasior—a landscape of turquoise reefs, jungled islands, and white-sand beaches.
Photo Credit
Photo by Alex Mundt
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Before heading into the jungle, Jack shared laughs with kids of his guide, Eky.
Photo Credit
Photo by Alex Mundt
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Members of the expedition ascended through the virgin jungles of the Wondiwois. (Photo by Alex Mundt)
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The group slept in hammocks and used a wooden shelter for preparing food and staying dry during the rain. (Photo by Alex Mundt)
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Blyth’s hornbills are common on the lower slopes of the Wondiwoi Mountains where they are not subject to the same hunting pressure and deforestation that threatens hornbills elsewhere in their range. (Photo by Jack Bushong ’25)
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This was the only bit of sunshine the group saw during five days spent in the cloud forest. (Photo by Alex Mundt)
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Local children surfed near Manokwari where the jungle meets the sea. (Photo by Alex Mundt)
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Left to right: Jody Bragger, Alex Mundt, Jack Bushong, and Ryan Bushong. (Photo by Alex Mundt)
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According to New Guinea's leading herpetologist, this frog, which was photographed at one of the group’s basecamps, likely represents a new species previously unknown to science. (Photo by Jack Bushong ’25)
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The group routinely ascended this ridgeline during their search efforts where they encountered tree kangaroo signs. (Photo by Alex Mundt)
