Current Affairs - Environment - Discussion

A total of 13 new Raorchestes bush frog species were identified across eight states in North-East India, marking a major advancement in biodiversity research for the region. Arunachal Pradesh contributed six of these discoveries while Meghalaya added three, with the rest spread across other northeastern states. The findings were validated through a combination of DNA analysis, morphological assessments, and bioacoustic studies. Many of the newly documented species were located in ecologically rich areas such as Namdapha, Eaglenest, and Narpuh wildlife sanctuaries. This discovery also highlights the ecological importance of the Raorchestes genus found across mountainous regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and southern China.