Greater Mekong new species discoveries

Well, researchers in the Greater Mekong region in southeast Asia struck the mother-lode last year. In 2010, they discovered 208 species, all previously unknown to science. That’s an average of one new species every two days!

Snub-nosed monkey (c) WWF
The Greater Mekong region is an area of extraordinary biodiversity spanning 6 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China; they share in the rich biodiversity of the region – home as well to endangered tigers and elephants – so also share the responsibility of conserving it.  The Greater Mekong region is an area under extreme pressure from unsustainable development and climate change, and needs special attention to conservation if this natural wealth is to survive.

WWF’s new report highlights 10 of the new species discovered, including a snub-nosed monkey, which will hide its head between its knees in wet weather to avoid rain running into its upturned nose, an all-female lizard that reproduces by cloning itself, and carnivorous pitcher plants which lure in and consume small rats, mice, lizards and even birds!

WWF’s Greater Mekong program is injecting this report and a call to action to the Dec. 19-20 leaders’ summit, held every three years by the six nations sharing the basin.  Our recommendations include economic assessment of the value of the ecological areas and species at risk, greater attention and investment in a greener, more sustainable economy, and training programs to build the capacity of communities to better conserve their wild resources.
I think it’s safe to say that, even though we’re discovering a lot about the species we share this wonderful planet with, there is so much more to learn – and do.