11 New Species Found in Vietnam

Eleven new plant and animal species were discovered by scientists of the World Wildlife Fund, a MacArthur grantee, in a remote area of central Vietnam. The new discoveries include a snake, five orchids and two butteries. These new species were found in the ancient tropical forests of the Central Annamites, a regional known as Vietnam’s “Green Corridor.” These forests most likely existed as continuous undisturbed forest cover for thousands of years, and as a result offer unique habitats for many species. Ten other plant species, including four more orchids, are still under examination but also appear to be new species. The Annamite region of Vietnam is one of the focal areas of MacArthur’s conservation and sustainable development grantmaking.