Lost Land of the Volcano

[anfieldman]

I don't know if someone has already beaten me to it but there seems to be a good programme on BBC2 next Tuesday at 9pm.

Series combining stunning wildlife with high-octane adventure, as a team of scientists and wildlife filmmakers from the BBC's Natural History Unit explores one of the last great unspoilt jungle wildernesses on earth.

New Guinea is a rugged tropical island that is home to some of the strangest creatures on the planet. The team is based at the foot of Mount Bosavi, a giant extinct volcano covered in thick and largely unexplored rainforest. With the help of trackers from a remote tribe they aim to search for the animals that live there - and they make amazing finds.

Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan discovers the nest of the world's smallest parrot, insect expert Dr George McGavin finds a talking beetle, the scientists identify types of frog, gecko and bat that are completely new to science, and adventurer Steve Backshall has to live and sleep underground as he explores a cave system flooded with white water.

The cameras follow the team every sweaty step of the way as they search for the evidence that may help preserve this last great jungle forever.

Check it out.

Mark

 

[Daz_of_caving]

Just about to tuck in and watch it, already looking forward to the caves

Daz

 

[cap n chris]

A new personal best for BBCiPlayer. 4mins and 7 seconds.

 

[martinm]

It was a great program and am looking forward to next Tuesday's installment!  8)

 

[anfieldman]

Well I liked it but I did not like the back and forth style of filming. Lets just watch a long bit of the caving then back to animals. Steve's over the top 'Oh Wow's' were quite irritating too. But overall a good programme I think.

 

[Huge]

Does anyone have more information on the actual caving expedition. Who was involved, what was found etc.

 

[nickwilliams]

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/09/raging-danger/alvarez-photography

 

[Huge]

Cheers Nick, I'll watch the video when I get home tonight. 

 

[nickwilliams]

Sorry - I was going to add a bit to that previous posting but the 'phone rang as I was preparing the message!

The caving filmed by the BBC for the Land of the Volcano series was not on the same trip as the expedition described on the Nat Geog. site, but it's to basically the same place and with much the same people. The Nat Geog. expedition went in 2005 and the BBC went back to the same location in (?) late 2007.

I should hasten to add that I wasn't on either trip (boo hoo) but I do know several of the people who were.

Nick.

 

[mikem]

Took almost 2 hours to download a 1 hour show - why is it only available in High Definition on iplayer?

Mike

 

[Cave_Troll]

i remember that article being one of several which destroyed my belief in Nat Geo being about the best photographs...

 

[Dickie]

Erm...wrong island guys.

Mt Bosavi is on the main island of New Guinea, the Nat Geo stuff is about an expedition to New Britain Island, next to New Guinea.

 

[Rhys]

Erm...wrong island guys.

Mt Bosavi is on the main island of New Guinea, the Nat Geo stuff is about an expedition to New Britain Island, next to New Guinea.

Indeed... The main part of the programme is about a scientific expedition to New Guinea. However, for some reason the programme makers have decided to add on an extra angle by also showing a trip to New Britain focussing on cave exporation.

Maybe pygmy parrots don't get the adrenaline pumping enough for most viewers.

Rhys

 

[Local Bloke]

why does that steve presenter guy have to shout all the time

 

[ian.p]

i think he must have some peculiar version of toretts causing him to shout WOW ITS AMAZING at every available opertunity...

 

[mikem]

The shouting is hardly surprising when he seems to have been filmed either in stream passages or helicopters, but they've reduced the background noise. The quick cutting between items is probably reflecting the reality of observing wildlife in rain forest - you only get short glimpses & constantly struggle to stop the camera misting over. Who can blame him for getting over-excited in such a place.

Part 2 is fortunately available in non High Def version at mo.

Mike

 

[paul]

At least Moose didn't call him a poof this time...