SCIENTISTS have discovered a “Lost World” in an isolated Indonesian jungle, identifying dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants — as well as large mammals hunted to near extinction elsewhere.

Soon after scientists landed by helicopter in the mist-shrouded mountains of one of Indonesia’s most remote provinces, they stumbled on a primitive egg-laying mammal that simply allowed itself to be picked up and brought to their field camp for observation.

Scientists discovered a “Lost World” in an isolated Indonesian jungle, identifying dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants – as well as large mammals hunted to near extinction elsewhere, members of the expedition said today.