According to a new study by World Wildlife Fund, only 25 per cent of the original habitats in the eastern Himalayas remain intact. Hundreds of species in the region face threat to their existence from unbridled developmental activities and climate change.  The latest regional species discovery report–‘Hidden Himalayas: Asia’s Wonderland’, a World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Living Himalayas initiative has expressed concern over depletion of original habitats due to industrial growth, mining and climate change.

The report adds population growth, deforestation, overgrazing, poaching, wildlife trade, mining, pollution and hydro-power development have all contributed to the pressures on the fragile ecosystem in the region.

While lamenting the negative impact of development on the region, the report said a virtual biological treasure trove of 200 species have been discovered 2009 and 2014. The 211 discoveries include 133 plants, 39 invertebrates, 26 fish, 10 amphibians, one reptile, one bird and one mammal.

The report maps out scores of new species found by scientists from various organizations across the region spanning Bhutan, North-East India, Nepal, the far north of Myanmar and the southern parts of Tibet.