14 DAY TRIAL // Between April 15 and May 15, 15 scientists went on an expedition in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. Their goal was to determine how this protected area was recovering after being damaged during the country's 17-year-long civil war.
As it turns out, biodiversity in this part of the world is doing better than expected. According to Mongabay, a total of 1,200 plant and animal species were documented on the Cheringoma Plateau during this expedition.
Of these, the most interesting is a bat whose appearance is strikingly similar to that of Star Wars character Chewbacca.
The researchers also stumbled upon one very weird species of beetle.
These bombardier beetles are known to pass explosive gases whenever they feel that they are endangered and that they need to defend themselves.
Information collected during this expedition will be added to a database concerning biodiversity in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park.