One of the most biologically diverse and seriously threatened regions on the planet, home and life source to over 300 million people in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and south China.
Discovering the Greater Mekong
A biological treasure trove
A fanged-fish and a fang-less snake, five new mammal species, a bald bird and a frog that sounds like a cricket are among the 145 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong during 2009. Over 1300 new species have been described by science in the Greater Mekong since 1997!
The Greater Mekong is home to some of the planets most endangered wild species including tiger, saola, Asian elephant, Mekong dolphin and Mekong giant catfish. There are over 430 types of mammals that roam the Greater Mekong’s forests and wetlands, as well as countless bird, reptile, amphibian and plant species.
Over 1100 species of fish navigate the Mekong River including 4 of the world's top 10 largest freshwater fish. For its length, the Mekong has a greatest biodiversity of fish than any other river on Earth.
Today, the survival of these wild species are threatened by wildlife trade, habitat loss and fragmention from unsustainable development, and the impacts of climate change.
For the past 50 million years, the Mekong has been a major life source for the people of this region. By length, it is the richest river for fish biodiversity on the planet, fostering more fish species per unit area than even the Amazon. Harbouring not only rare and endangered species such as the Mekong giant catfish, this river is also integral to the livelihoods of over 60 million people across the Mekong River basin.
Over 1100 species of fish navigate the Mekong River including 4 of the world's top 10 largest freshwater fish. For its length, the Mekong has a greatest biodiversity of fish than any other river on Earth.
Today, the survival of these wild species are threatened by wildlife trade, habitat loss and fragmention from unsustainable development, and the impacts of climate change.
From the Tibetan plateau to Mekong delta
The Mekong River connects six countries over 4,800 km from its origins in China’s Tibetan-Qinghai plateau to the thriving Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam, where it empties into the South China Sea.For the past 50 million years, the Mekong has been a major life source for the people of this region. By length, it is the richest river for fish biodiversity on the planet, fostering more fish species per unit area than even the Amazon. Harbouring not only rare and endangered species such as the Mekong giant catfish, this river is also integral to the livelihoods of over 60 million people across the Mekong River basin.
Wild Asian elephants in Kuiburi National Park, Thailand.
A human presence since the Iron Age
People have been living in the Greater Mekong region for more than 4,000 years.
Local woman collects fire wood at Pham Ba Thinh, Greater Annamites, Vietnam.
The largest combined tiger habitat on the planet
Diverse forests and jungles still cover large areas of the Greater Mekong region. Together these forest landscapes, which span international borders, make up the largest tiger habitat in the world.
Indochinese tigers historically were found in abundance across the Greater Mekong region. Today, there are no more than 30 individual tigers per country in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The remaining populations are predominantly found in the Kayah Karen Tenasserim mountain border between Thailand and Myanmar.
However, despite these negative trends there is still time to save the Greater Mekong’s tigers. The region contains the largest combined tiger habitat in the world. Forest landscapes spanning 540,000km2, or roughly the size of France, are priority areas for current WWF tiger conservation efforts.
Not just a refuge for tigers, the Greater Mekong's forests also provide sanctuary to other critically endangered species such as the Crested gibbons and Asian elephant, and are vital to both livelihoods and industry.
Natural resources such as timber and rattan can be sustainably managed for community use, commercial production and trade. Healthy forests are also valuable for their ability to absorb carbon and buffer the region from the effects of climate change.
However, despite these negative trends there is still time to save the Greater Mekong’s tigers. The region contains the largest combined tiger habitat in the world. Forest landscapes spanning 540,000km2, or roughly the size of France, are priority areas for current WWF tiger conservation efforts.
Not just a refuge for tigers, the Greater Mekong's forests also provide sanctuary to other critically endangered species such as the Crested gibbons and Asian elephant, and are vital to both livelihoods and industry.
Natural resources such as timber and rattan can be sustainably managed for community use, commercial production and trade. Healthy forests are also valuable for their ability to absorb carbon and buffer the region from the effects of climate change.
Camera trap of a tiger in Kayah Karen Tenasserim ecoregion
