Frank Gardner

When did you first learn about birds of paradise?

I was eight years old. I had a set of playing cards with the birds on the back. I asked my mother if they actually existed, and she said “yes, in Papua New Guinea”. From that day I’ve always wanted to go there.

How tough was the whole experience?

I was pretty uncomfortable a lot of the time. It was hot and humid, and the food was appalling. It was also muddy, which made it difficult for me to get around. But I got to see this extraordinary, remote part of the world and witness tribal practices that few have seen. The Niowra performed a welcome-back ceremony for Benedict, and their costumes and displays were amazing.

Did you get a sense of how vulnerable the birds are?

Very much so. A road is being built in the Highlands, and while this will mean great progress for the local people, it is cutting through the birds’ territory and habitat. In terms of wildlife it’s a real worry.

Is there a strong conservation movement?

No, and there’s a real need for one. The mountains limit building, but the country is developing rapidly.

Do the locals see the birds as worth protecting?

Some do, but for most they remain a means of decoration and food. But they don’t take enough to destroy populations. Roads and habitat loss are far more damaging.

FRANK GARDNER is a broadcast journalist and author.