Pit viper, flying snake and geckos among new species uncovered in Cambodian caves
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- A new biodiversity survey of 64 limestone caves in Cambodia’s Battambang province uncovered several species new to science, including a turquoise pit viper, a flying snake, geckos, micro-snails, and millipedes, highlighting the region's unique and isolated ecosystems.
- Each karst hill and cave acts as an isolated "island laboratory" of evolution, with species evolving independently, as explained by evolutionary biologist Lee Grismer, emphasizing the importance of understanding biodiversity for effective conservation.
- The survey also identified globally threatened species like the Sunda pangolin, green peafowl, and macaques, while noting that much of Cambodia’s karst landscape, which covers about 9% of the country, remains unexplored.
- Despite the ecological significance, karst habitats face threats from cement extraction, overtourism, hunting, logging, and wildfires, prompting conservation efforts and talks with the government to grant protective status to these areas.
- The caves also hold cultural importance as sites for shrines, meditation, and pilgrimage, adding another layer of value to the need for their preservation amid increasing environmental pressures.
