Throwim Way Leg: Tree-Kangaroos, Possums, and Penis Gourds: On the Track of Unknown Mammals in Wildest New Guinea

Tim Flannery, a world expert on New Guinea's fauna who has identified twenty new species, takes readers on a scientific expedition through New Guinea's remote regions. His journey includes encounters with mountain communities, camps among groups practicing cannibalism, and a friendship with Femsep, a legendary warrior involved in colonial conflicts decades earlier. Flannery explores caves containing skeletons of extinct giant marsupials, climbs mountains previously unvisited by Europeans, and faces danger when tribespeople seek revenge against wildlife scientists. Throughout his account, he reflects on how indigenous populations are affected by late-twentieth-century industrial development. The title references a New Guinea Pidgin phrase meaning to take the first step of a long journey. Flannery's narrative combines scientific observation, adventure, and examination of traditional cultures, drawing comparisons to travel narratives that blend exploration with anthropological and natural history perspectives.