PNG as I Remember it! (Session 5: The Critters)

Wow, it's been a while since I have posted! I promised this session some time ago, so it's time to make good on it. The bugs, birds, sea life, mammals, etc. in PNG are so numerous and diverse that I can only make a weak attempt at it here. I have placed pictures containing critters that are common sights and/or are visually impressive!

This is the national bird of PNG, called The Bird of Paradise.

This Cassowary is a large flightless bird that stands about chest-high to a man.
We see a lot of these Kites (bird of prey) soaring about in Ukarumpa. I remember taking meat and throwing it high into the air and the birds swooping down and grabbing it! THAT was cool for a kid! I don't know what this one is called, but it's impressive nonetheless. I've never seen one before, this was just an internet find!
This is a flying fox bat. It is a fruit eater and it found in the coastal areas. Yes, it is as big as it looks. An Echidna. Just plain weird.

Green tree python. Never saw one of this outside of captivity. I'm guessing they didn't make it to 5000ft elevation very often.
My favorite critter, the Tree Kangaroo. It's a marsupial and lives in the trees, thus the name. They are pretty tame pets, and have VERY soft fur. You just have to beware of the claws: good for trees, bad for legs.
Giant Wood Spider. Can get to 8 inches across! Don't like 'em much, but at least they live OUTSIDE! A walking stick. This is definitely a jungle find! I don't remember ever seeing one of these either... but then again, that's the point.
A "muna" beetle. These were everywhere. They make little burrows in the soil and you can see hundreds of little mounds on the surface! Apparently they are edible. They are only about as big as your thumbnail (if you have BIG thumbnails).

The pushmepullyou butterfly. This is a good shot because it explains the name.
Rhino beetle. They can fly.


Salt water crocs, poisonous birds, giant mosquitoes, and all sorts of other wonderful critters are spread throughout this lovely county. You may be asking "why?" again, but think about it this way: Have you ever wandered into a black bear, or had a copperhead slither across your path, or seen a black widow on your log pile? It's all dangerous, the difference is that you are not as scared of the danger you are familiar with, and all of this is unfamiliar territory, so it causes extra fear. Once you get past that, the 8 inch spider is nuttin' but a bug!