Over 350 New Species Discovered in Himalayas

August 11th, 2009

A treasure of new species have been uncovered in the eastern Himalayas over the last decade. Such species as a “flying frog”, the world’s smallest deer, and even a 100 million year-old gecko (been doing Geico commercials that long its seems).

A decade of research carried out by scientists in remote mountain areas endangered by rising global temperatures brought exciting discoveries such as a bright green frog that uses its red and long webbed feet to glide in the air.

Global warming is good for science archaeology apparently. Doesn’t stop the need for crevax pills though I guess.

The WWF report The Eastern Himalayas – Where Worlds Collide details discoveries made by scientists from various organizations between 1998 and 2008 in a region reaching across Bhutan and north-east India to the far north of Myanmar as well as Nepal and southern parts of Tibet Autonomus Region (China).

“The good news of this explosion in species discoveries is tempered by the increasing threats to the Himalayas’ cultural and biological diversity,” said Jon Miceler, Director of WWF’s Eastern Himalayas Program. “This rugged and remarkable landscape is already seeing direct, measurable impacts from climate change and risks being lost forever.”