(IN) 19 new species of flora and fauna found in Sikkim

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19 new species of flora and fauna in Sikkim

PTI 3 September 2009, 04:58pm IST

 

GANGTOK: Sikkim continues to maintain its pole position as the country's richest

state in terms of bio-diversity with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) saying

that 19 new species of flora and fauna has been found in the state in the last

10 years.

 

Of the 353 species of flora and fauna discovered in the eastern Himalayan range

between 1998 and 2008, Sikkim has generated 19 species comprising plants and

fish, the WWF said in its report.

 

The WWF surveyers also discovered 21 new species of orchids in the range of

which five have been found in Sikkim, the report said.

 

The new variety orchid - coelogune pantlingii (pure white) - has been found in

several parts of Sikkim, it said adding of 14 fish varieties found Sikkim has

contributed three varieties - Pseudopoda abnormis, Pseudopoda hingstoni and

Pseudopoda minor.

 

Meanwhile, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), carrying out a

survey work in Sikkim for the proposed integrated forest development programme

to be funded by the agency, has complimented the state for being a reserve of a

number of flora and fauna which are not found in other parts of the world.