The Mekong region, which encompasses Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, is often referred to as a 'treasure trove of biodiversity'.

However, the biodiversity in this area is under severe threat from habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, climate change, pollution, and invasive species.

Many of the newly discovered species are at risk of extinction due to these human activities, prompting WWF to call for enhanced protection measures from regional governments.

Stefan Ziegler, an expert at WWF Germany, highlighted that many of these species have existed in the Mekong's unique habitats for thousands of years but are now facing extinction.

Despite intensive agricultural and forestry practices over the past 50 years, the Mekong region remains critically important for its high biological diversity.

Some of the newly identified species, including orchids and aquarium fish, are already found in trade, raising concerns about their future.

New species are often discovered through field visits, collected and stored in natural history museums and botanical gardens for years before thorough analysis.

In 2023, a remarkable discovery was made in the Mekong region of Southeast Asia, where over 230 new vertebrate and plant species were identified, as reported by WWF.

This extensive research, conducted by hundreds of experts over the course of a year, included 173 vascular plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fish, and 3 mammals.

Among the notable finds is a leafless orchid species, Chiloschista quangdangii, which is believed to be endangered due to habitat destruction and over-exploitation.

Other significant discoveries include a well-camouflaged lizard, Laodracon carsticola, and a hairy hedgehog, Hylomys macarong, the latter named after a Vietnamese vampire.

The urgent need for conservation efforts is underscored by the ongoing threats to the Greater Mekong Region's rich biodiversity.