Concern for new species discovered in Eastern Himalayas

During the past decade, over 350 new species have been discovered in an area belonging to five countries. Fears have been raised as climate change threatens their future.

Other factors including logging, overgrazing and trade in wildlife threaten the future of these newly discovered species which include this bright green frog which uses red webbed feet to fly through the air. A report from WWF warns that this area is one of the most at risk from a changing climate and there is a growing need for Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, north eastern India and the far north of Burma to cooperate in protecting this important are of biodiversity.

Endangered species such as the clouded leopard and rare species such as the Asian elephant, red panda and blue sheep are also found in this area. WWF have reported that the region harbours 10,000 plant species, 300 mammals, 977 bird species, 176 reptiles and 269 types of freshwater fish, has the highest density of the Bengal tiger and is the last bastion of the greater one-horned rhino. Read more