SoPac II Expedition Videos

(Coelacanth Reconnaissance 2011)

      Clicking the four arrow icon on the lower right of the player screen gives full screen view.

 

 

     Across the ashfields of Rabaul, and beyond the bay, we climb smouldering Tavurvur volcano to peer into the Mouth of Hell!  (2 min:40 seconds)

     

     After a ride on the Sepik River and a grueling march 10 miles into the interior, we arrive at the village of Alumbet, for the dedication of the spirit house 7- years in the making. The Sing Sing lasts all night. Our guide cuts the ribbon. We are the first tourist visitors after missionaries to arrive here. A bizarre mix of traditional and outside influences- including a demon in a Ralph Lauren sports bra!- overwhelm the senses. (12 min: 10 seconds)

 

       Papua New Guinea Huli Wigmen dance and chant. (46 hectic seconds.)

     A "Stone Age" New Guinea Highlander makes fire from dried grass in less than two minutes! (1:52)

      Asaro Valley Mud Men emerge from the forest in a demonstration of how, covered in mud wearing clay masks with pig's teeth, they once raided neighboring villages, scaring the daylights out of the inhabitants.

 

     Papua New Guinea fishermen claim catches of coelacanths. Our guide translates from Pidgin English and the local dialect. (5:46)

     Another PNG fisherman claims a "bigmouth" coelacanth catch. (5:05)  

     A Solomon Islander claims a recent coelacanth catch. (7:10)  

     A village elder says small coelacanths "too weak to survive" were caught off a nearby reef in the Solomon Islands. (2:26)