Dingiso

The dingiso, also known as the bondegezou, is a unique tree-kangaroo found exclusively in the Papua Province of central New Guinea, Indonesia. Its species name, "mbaiso" translates to "the forbidden animal" in the Moni language. This remarkable marsupial inhabits the alpine forests of the Sudirman Range, at elevations ranging from 3,250 to 4,200 meters.

What distinguishes the dingiso is its striking black and white fur. It features a white belly, while its head, back, and limbs are black. Unlike most tree-kangaroos, the dingiso spends minimal time in the trees. The species was officially described in 1995 by a team comprising Australian Museum zoologist Tim Flannery, Indonesian zoologist Boeadi, and Australian anthropologist Alexandra Szalay.

Despite its prevalence in the western region of New Guinea, the dingiso is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. This is largely attributed to the protection provided by the Moni people, who hold the animal in high regard as an ancestral figure and forbid harming it. The first video footage of the dingiso was recorded in 2009 during the filming of the BBC documentary series "South Pacific" following an 11-day search with assistance from local Moni tribesmen.