for those (of us that missed this the first time, that rather
irritating documentary on the englishman blundering all over indonesia
looking for new orchids is on again next week; this is the maryland
public TV listing.......


Tuesday, June 24, 2003
08:00 PM
"Orchid Hunter" (#2915)
In 2000, orchid enthusiast Tom Hart Dyke, then 24, was looking for
orchids in South America when he was kidnapped by Colombian
guerrillas. Nine months in captivity in the jungle gave Tom plenty of
experience of tropical orchids, and on his release, he was even more
passionate about the flowers than before. Now, he's determined to find
a new species of orchid to name after his inspirational grandmother,
and is convinced that Papua New Guinea offers the best chance. It's
part of the second largest island in the world, and only 5% of it has
ever been explored by botanists. Most scientists are reluctant to work
there because of the ever-present threat of kidnapping and the
extremely hostile working environment, inhabited to this day by groups
of cannibals and head-hunters.