HUNDREDS OF NEWLY DISCOVERED SPECIES UNDER THREAT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA’S MEKONG REGION
According to a report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Monday, nearly 400 newly discovered species in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss caused by human activity. The WWF report reveals that an international team of scientists has discovered a total of 290 plants, 19 fish species, 24 amphibians, 46 reptiles, and one mammal during a two-year period from 2021 to 2022. These new species include an orchid that resembles a character from the “Muppet Show” and a gecko named after mythical tree nymphs in Thai mythology. The discoveries highlight the rich biodiversity of the Greater Mekong region, but also the threats posed by human-driven habitat encroachment.
RISE IN THREATS TO WILDLIFE
The Greater Mekong region, home to more than 300 million people across Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, China, Cambodia, and Vietnam, faces tremendous pressures from economic development and human population growth. These factors drive deforestation, pollution, and over-exploitation of natural resources. Truong Q. Nguyen from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, who wrote the foreword to the WWF findings, highlighted in the report the dangers facing wildlife in the region due to human activities.
NUMBERS OF DISCOVERED SPECIES
The discoveries by the international team of scientists bring the number of vascular plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals described in the Greater Mekong region since 1997 to nearly 4,000, according to the WWF report. This highlights the need to protect and conserve the region’s rich biodiversity.
URGENT CALL FOR ACTION
Mark Wright, WWF-UK’s director of science, says the report serves as a timely reminder of the extreme jeopardy faced by many of these species as well as the habitats they occupy. He calls for urgent and committed action to be taken to protect and conserve these newly discovered species.
KEYWORDS AND SEO OPTIMIZATION
Keywords for this report include « Southeast Asia, » « Greater Mekong region, » « newly discovered species, » « extinction, » « WWF, » and « conservation. » These keywords help optimize the report for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, making it easier for people to find and learn about this important issue.
REFERENCES
For more information about the report and the World Wildlife Fund, please visit their website. Additionally, for more information on conservation efforts in Southeast Asia and how you can help, please visit the WWF’s Southeast Asia webpage.
