Skip Navigation
Give Now NCPR relies on
Your Donations
n p r   n e w s

More from NPR

Investors Question Fairness Of Facebook IPO
May 23, 2012 — The fallout from Facebook's initial public offering continues to spread, moving from trading screens to potentially the courtroom. Some of the investors who bought shares of the company filed a lawsuit alleging that Facebook and underwriter Morgan Stanley concealed information about Facebook's expected performance.
By Putting Patients First, Hospital Tries To Make Care More Personal
May 23, 2012 — Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton, Va., offers services not usually found in your average hospital. Not only is every one of its patient rooms a private one, it offers food cooked and delivered to order, and hand massages. But experts say it's the actual involvement of patients and families in their own care that sets it apart.
Beijing Imposes 'Two-Fly' Rule For Public Restrooms
May 23, 2012 — The rule, instituted to improve sanitation, applies to bathrooms in tourist spots such as parks, railway stations, supermarkets and malls.
Remember The Debt Ceiling Debate? It's Back
May 23, 2012 — In the past week, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner have begun a new round of sparring over the U.S. debt ceiling. It's part of a number of problems involving debt, taxes and spending that are all slated to come to a head in early 2013. And solutions aren't likely before Election Day.
Before Leaping To 10 Golds, Athlete Beat Polio
May 23, 2012 — Ray Ewry is an all-but-forgotten Olympic great from the early 1900s with a remarkable story. Before winning his 10th gold medal in 10 tries, Ewry accomplished something truly remarkable: He learned to walk again.
A limestone leaf warbler (Phylloscopus Calciatilis), so-called because it breeds in limestone karsts in Laos and has a loud, unique call, is one of the new species identified in the WWF report. (AFP/Getty Images)

Monkey, Carnivorous Plants Among New Species Found In Mekong River Region

by Wright Bryan
Dec 12, 2011 — Researchers identified 208 new species in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia in 2010, according to a report released by the WWF conservation group Monday.
Comments |

Researchers identified 208 new species in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia in 2010, according to a report (PDF) released by the WWF conservation group Monday.

From the WWF news release:

"A new monkey, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants, and a unique leaf warbler are among the 208 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong region in 2010 and highlighted in a new WWF report."

"A total of 145 plants, 28 reptiles, 25 fish, 7 amphibians, 2 mammals, and 1 bird were all discovered within the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia that spans Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan."

The WWF says that the 208 new species come on top of the 1,345 discovered since 1997.

While scientists and conservationists work to document and protect life in the Mekong River region, the AP quotes a WWF official saying that it's a losing battle:

"'This is a region of extraordinary richness in terms of biodiversity but also one that is extremely fragile,' said Sarah Bladen, communications director for WWF Greater Mekong. 'It's losing biodiversity at a tragic rate.'"

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Source: NPR
Copyright 2012 NPR - For Personal Use Only

Adirondack News Fund Founding Supporters: Paul Smith's College, The College of the Adirondacks · Wildlife Conservation Society · Adirondack Medical Center Foundation · Adirondack Museum · Niagara Mohawk Foundation · Schumann Foundation · John A. Sellon Charitable Trust · several anonymous individual donors