144 new species in last decade in Northeast

As many as 353 new species of flora and fauna have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas in the past decade,of which more than 40 per cent were found in the eight states of the Northeastern region. While the 353 discoveries include 244 plants,16 amphibians,16 reptiles,14 fish,two birds,two mammals and around 60 new invertebrates,about 144 belong to the Northeast,strengthening the region’s claim to being one of the most significant bio-diversity hotspots.

Details of these new discoveries are compiled in the latest WWF report titled “Eastern Himalayas – Where the Worlds Collide” that positions the Eastern Himalayas on par with some of the other global biological hotspots like Borneo.