New species discovered in fragile Eastern Himalayas

More than 350 new species, as well as a flying frog and also the world’s smallest deer, are discovered within the japanese Himalayas, a WWF report has revealed. however this treasure trove of biological diversity is currently threatened by climate amendment, it warns.
The report, The japanese Himalayas – Where Worlds Collide, describes a bunch of latest species found over the last decade within the remote mountain region spanning Bhutan, north-eastern India, northern Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and southern elements of Tibet. They embrace 244 plants, sixteen amphibians, sixteen reptiles, 14 fish, two birds, 2 mammals and a minimum of sixty invertebrates.

Biologically wealthy

“These exciting finds reinforce simply how very little we all know concerning the globe around us,” said our conservation science advisor, Mark Wright.

“In the japanese Himalayas we've got a locality of extraordinary beauty and with a number of the foremost biologically wealthy areas on the world. Ironically, it's additionally one in every of the regions most in danger from climate amendment, as evidenced by the fast retreat of the glaciers, and solely time can tell how well species are going to be able to adapt – if the least bit.”

Amazing discoveries

Among the discoveries are a bright inexperienced frog that uses its long red webbed feet to glide within the air, and also the miniature muntjac or leaf deer. At simply over 2 feet tall, the leaf deer is that the world’s smallest deer species.

One discovery was something however new: a one hundred million-year-old gecko fossil found in an amber mine in Myanmar. The now-extinct species is that the oldest variety of gecko known to science.

The region harbours a staggering array of species: ten,000 plants, three hundred mammals, 977 bird species, 176 reptiles, one zero five amphibians and 269 freshwater fish. The japanese Himalayas also are home to several of the remaining Bengal tigers and are the last bastion of the bigger one-horned rhino.

Climate impact

Unfortunately, this globally-important hotspot of biological diversity is extremely susceptible to the results of climate amendment.

We have so launched our Climate for all times campaign to bring the plight of the Himalayas to the eye of the globe. and that we are operating with native communities to assist them deal with the impacts of climate amendment.





Tackling climate amendment within the region additionally depends on vital action from developed countries. we have a tendency to are calling on governments attending the climate amendment talks in Copenhagen this December to commit industrialised countries to a four-hundredth reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (compared to 1990 levels).

“There isn't any space for compromise on this issue,” added Wright. “Without these cuts the Himalayas face a precarious future – impacting each the distinctive wildlife and also the two hundredth of humanity who suppose the river systems that arise in these mountains.”