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PNG Frequently
Asked Questions
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via Papua New Guinea
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via Papua New Guinea
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Please note -- Whilst all care has been taken in preparing and maintaining the FAQ's about Papua New Guinea it is not possible to be able verify every answer. The information is provided 'as is' and I can not accept responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from the use of this information.
Please verify the information for yourself from a government source, travel agent or other similar organisation.
This database does not contain information about other countries. - It is only about Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Flora and Fauna List of Categories
Do you have a possible inclusion for this category of FAQ? If you do then please let me know
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- Wher can I find a list of species held at the Rainforest Habitat in Lae?
- What is palm oil used for?
- Can you tell me about the history of Palm Oil?
- Does palm oil contain cholesterol?
- How many types of fern food are available in PNG?
- When common salt is not readily available in PNG what do people do?
- Is vanilla produced in PNG?
- How many different reptiles have been reported to be in PNG?
- How many reptiles can be found in PNG?
- How many different amphibian species are there in PNG?
- How much taro can be produced in a one hectare plot?
- Does PNG have any bats?
- Are there any kangaroos in PNG?
- What are some of the tree kangaroo species found in PNG?
- Who named the Goodfellow Tree Kangaroo -- Dendrolagus goodfellowi goodfellowi?
- How much tea did PNG produce in 2001?
- How much rubber did PNG produce in 2001?
- How much fruit and vegetables did PNG produce in 2002?
- How much fruit and vegetables are consumed in Port Moresby annually?
- How much fruit and vegetables are consumed in Lae annually?
- How much poultry did PNG produce in 2001?
- How many eggs are produced in PNG annually?
- How much pig meat (pork - ham - bacon, poro) did PNG produce in 2001?
- What is a Spanish Dancer?
- What is often referred to as the "butterflies of the sea"?
- Is the Klinki pine the tallest tree in P.N.G? Where abouts is it and how high is it?
- What is the scientific name for the "bubblegum tree" and does it have a commercial or other value? A friend of mine who lives on the black lakes near Ambunti has planted some many years ago and wants to know if they have a commercial value.
- Can you give me a list of endangered animal species in PNG?
- Are there any books or field guides on the birds of PNG?
What is the currency exchange rate to the $AU?
- Are their cows in PNG?
- How many species of mammals are there in PNG?
- I know that peanuts are grown in PNG but is there any processing of this product in the country?
- How many different bird species are there in PNG?
- How many bird species are there in PNG?
- How many birds of paradise can be found in PNG?
- What are the two species of bee-eaters found in PNG?
- What is the most frequently seen small falcons in PNG?
- How tall does the flightless Cassowary grow?
- I hear that there is an unusual bird that is poisonous - what is the name of this bird?
- How many bananas does PNG produce annually?
- How many native types of bananas are there in PNG?
- What is the main hinderance to banana production in PNG?
- Are ants a problem in PNG?
- What birds are commonly found around the Tari Gap area of PNG?
- What are some of the types of Nautilus found in PNG?
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- Wher can I find a list of species held at the Rainforest Habitat in Lae?
http://www.habitat.org.pg/species.htm
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- What is palm oil used for?
Primarily soap but it is used as edible oil in some places. It is a rich source of beta-carotene. It can also be blended with other oils and made into margarine.
Palm oil is also used to make vanaspati, or vegetable ghee, which is a 100% vegetable fat used as a substitute for butter, fat in many countries.
The Oil palm originated in West Africa but has since been planted successfully in tropical regions within 20 degrees of the equator. The world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil today is Malaysia, producing about 50% of the world's supply of palm oil. Indonesia is the second largest world producer of palm oil producing approx 30% of world palm oil volume.
Did you know that palm oil is found in many food products - including chocolate, margarine, biscuits, chips and muesli.
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- Can you tell me about the history of Palm Oil?
Palm oil is a natural food that has been consumed for more than 5,000 years.
Palm oil is produced from the fruit of the oil palm, or Elaeis Guinnesis tree, which originated in West Guinea. While the tree was introduced into other parts of Africa, South East Asia and Latin America during the 15th century, it was first introduced as an ornamental plant in 1870.
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- Does palm oil contain cholesterol?
Palm oil, like other vegetable oils, is cholesterol free.
Like other common edible fats and oils; palm oil is easily digested, absorbed an utilized for the support of healthy growth and plays a critical role in providing nutrition worldwide.
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- How many types of fern food are available in PNG?
There are three types of fern food available in Papua New Guinea:- starches, greens, and additives.
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- When common salt is not readily available in PNG what do people do?
The people prepare salt from the residual ash of a species of Asplenium, A. acrobryum. The ash is sprinkled on the cooked food prior to eating. The composition of this salt has been analysed by the University of Papua New Guinea and was found to be higher in Potassium than common salt.
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- Is vanilla produced in PNG?
Vanilla production is in its infancy in PNG. Attempts are underway to grow both vanilla planifolia and vanilla tahitiensis species in PNG.
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- How many different reptiles have been reported to be in PNG?
There have been 305 species found of which 79 are endemic to PNG.
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- How many reptiles can be found in PNG?
There are about 200 different species of reptiles and 100 types of snakes.
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- How many different amphibian species are there in PNG?
241 species have been identified with 89 endemic to PNG.
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- How much taro can be produced in a one hectare plot?
The NT1, NT2 and NT3 varieties of taro have been claimed to be able to produce eight to nine tonnes per hectare by the National Agricultural Research Institute. (NARI)
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- Does PNG have any bats?
PNG has about 91 species of bats that live across the country from small coastal islands to the treeline of the highest mountains.
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- Are there any kangaroos in PNG?
PNG is home to seven species of tree kangaroo all of which remains obscure to science.
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- What are some of the tree kangaroo species found in PNG?
The Huon Tree kangaroo -- Dendorolagus matschiei, Dendorolagus spadix (Lowland Tree Kangaroo) and the Dendorolagus goodfellowi (Goodfellow Tree Kangaroo) are three of the seven species of tree kangaroo found in PNG.
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- Who named the Goodfellow Tree Kangaroo -- Dendrolagus goodfellowi goodfellowi?
MICHAEL OLDFIELD THOMAS named the Goodfellow Tree Kangaroo in honour of its discoverer, Walter Goodfellow Esq. It was the only tree-kangaroo Thomas ever described.
Goodfellow's Tree-kangaroo has a limited distribution in southeast New Guinea. Local hunters report that it is absent from the central mountains in the Kokoda area, but that it inhabits the outlying ranges. It is likewise absent from the higher part of the Wharton Range.
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- How much tea did PNG produce in 2001?
PNG produced about 8,000 tonnes of tea in 2001.
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- How much rubber did PNG produce in 2001?
PNG produces 3,600 - 4,000 tonnes of rubber per annum. It is hoped that this figure will reach 4,500 tonnes in 2002.
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- How much fruit and vegetables did PNG produce in 2002?
PNG produces approximately 60,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually.
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- How much fruit and vegetables are consumed in Port Moresby annually?
Port Moresby consumes approx 8,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually.
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- How much fruit and vegetables are consumed in Lae annually?
Lae consumes approx 2,500 tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually.
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- How much poultry did PNG produce in 2001?
PNG produced more than 16,000 tonnes for the domestic market in 2001.
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- How many eggs are produced in PNG annually?
About 3.2 million dozen or in excess of 38 million eggs are produced annually.
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- How much pig meat (pork - ham - bacon, poro) did PNG produce in 2001?
PNG produced 1,500 tonnes in 2001, 1,450 tonnes in 2001
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- What is a Spanish Dancer?
It is one of the largest species of Nudibranchs and may grow to a size of 400mm.
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- What is often referred to as the "butterflies of the sea"?
Sea Slugs or Nudibranchs with their gaudy colours, intricate patterns, and bizarre shapes are often referred to as the "butterflies of the sea". There are over 3,000 species currently recorded and hundreds more yet to be described.
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- Is the Klinki pine the tallest tree in P.N.G? Where abouts is it and how high is it?
The tallest tropical rain forest tree may be the klinki pine from Papua New Guinea (93 m). It is also not a true pine but a member of the Araucaria family of conifers.
See http://www.forestlight.co.uk for a picture and location.
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- What is the scientific name for the "bubblegum tree" and does it have a commercial or other value? A friend of mine who lives on the black lakes near Ambunti has planted some many years ago and wants to know if they have a commercial value.
Sorry I have not been able to find a scientific name for the bubble gum tree and whether it has a commercial value or not I do not know.
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- Can you give me a list of endangered animal species in PNG?
I would say that all species are endangered due to the destruction of the habitat used by the various animals and the encroachment of "man" on to areas that were not previoulsy occupied.
Perhaps this would be a good project for a school to answer?
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- Are there any books or field guides on the birds of PNG?
What is the currency exchange rate to the $AU?
Try looking for books by William (Bill) Peckover. He has produced a couple of books.
(May 2008) The PNG Kina buys about 38 Aussie cents but going from AUD to PGK I am not sure of the rate. All I know is that the banks always win on any transaction.
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- Are their cows in PNG?
Yes there are cows in PNG. In fact PNG exports live cattle to other countries.
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- How many species of mammals are there in PNG?
The current figure is 242 with 57 of these endemic to PNG.
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- I know that peanuts are grown in PNG but is there any processing of this product in the country?
No, not that I am aware of, but during the 1970's and '80's there was processing of peanuts in the Morobe Province. Some peanuts were exported overseas from Lae to many of the countries in the South Pacifc. Peanuts were also made into peanut butter at the Atzera Rural Co-opeeartive for the domestic and international market. Sadly these ventures have folded.
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- How many different bird species are there in PNG?
I belive at least 762 species with 85 endemic to PNG.
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- How many bird species are there in PNG?
There are over 760 bird species including the bowerbird, cassowaries, crowned pigeons, cockatoos and the truly remarkable hornbill known as the kokomo.
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- How many birds of paradise can be found in PNG?
Of the 43 known species around the world, 38 of them can be found in Papua New Guinea.
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- What are the two species of bee-eaters found in PNG?
The two species of bee-eaters found in PNG are the Blue-tailed (a resident) and the Rainbow Bee-eater a migrant from Australia.
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- What is the most frequently seen small falcons in PNG?
The most frequently seen small falcons in PNG are probably the Oriental Hobby or the Brown Falcon. Occassionaly the Kestrel pays a visit to PNG from Australia.
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- How tall does the flightless Cassowary grow?
Cassowaries can grow to a height of 1.3 to 1.7 metres and can weigh as much as 60 kilograms?
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- I hear that there is an unusual bird that is poisonous - what is the name of this bird?
PNG is home to the only known poisonous bird - the pitohuis. The toxin (homobatrachotoxin) found in this bird is supposed to be identical to the poison found in the poison dart frogs of South America.
Although far-separated taxonomically, both species traveled along the same path of random mutations to achieve this evolutionary convergence.
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- How many bananas does PNG produce annually?
Banana production in PNG has been estimated to be between 413,000 and 665,000 tonnes annually with an average of six tonnes per hectare for cooking bananas to 27 tonnes per hectare for desert bananas.
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- How many native types of bananas are there in PNG?
There are more than 30 varieties in PNG and the commonly grown are the dwarf, medium and tall Cavendish and Gros Michel.
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- What is the main hinderance to banana production in PNG?
The main problem facing banana farmers in PNG is the Black Sigatoka leaf streak. It is known to be one of the most destructive banana diseases in the world.
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- Are ants a problem in PNG?
YES, are they ever! Ants will eat through almost anything. They will even invade your car. It is advisable to store everything in tins or in the fridge.
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- What birds are commonly found around the Tari Gap area of PNG?
Commonly sighted around the Tari Gap area and the birding sites around Ambua Lodge are the Blue Bird of Paradise, Crested Bird of Paradise, Loria's Bird of Paradise, Yellow-breasted Bird of Paradise, Brown Sicklebill, Black Sicklebill, the magnificent Astrapia species - Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Arfak Astrapia, Stephanie's Astrapia (Princess Stephanie) - Wahnes' Parotia, King of Saxony Bird of Paradise and the Superb Bird of Paradise, popularly worn by the Hulis on the front of their headdresses.
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- What are some of the types of Nautilus found in PNG?
Nautilus scrobiculatus and the more common Nautilus pompilius can be found in PNG.
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Please remember that this is a FAQ database about Papua New Guinea.
Doing a search for PNG or New Guinea or even P.N.G will probably not return much. Keep the search simple. i.e. if you want to find out the population simply enter "population" without the quotes. There is no need to have PNG / P.N.G or whatever in the search string.
Also - Spelling is important searching for 'inkom' will not return items related to 'income'. If you are searching Lady Carol Kidu just enter Carol Kidu or even Kidu. You are not searching the WWW only these FAQ's so the topic has already been narrowed to PNG related topics for you.
