The elusive fish species swamp eel (Ophichthys hodgarti) and the velvet worm (Typhloperipatus williamsoni) have been rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh after over 100 years. A team of researchers discovered the eel in the Siang Valley in 2022. The discovery of the fish species was published in the latest edition of the journal Zootaxa. The rediscovery of the worm, first recorded in 1913, was published in the Journal of Natural History. It was rediscovered in Kallek and Yingku.
Two plant species-Strobilanthes tubiflos and Tupistra stoliczkana-were rediscovered in the East Siang Valley in 2020. Furthermore, the researchers have discovered several species of freshwater crabs, damselflies, fish, frogs, insects, mammals, plants, and birds that are new to science.
The conservation of these species is important. Development activities that could harm the environment and impair growth should be avoided in biodiverse areas. Community participation is crucial for sustaining biodiversity. As custodians of nature and its resources, local communities must be partners in conservation efforts.
The balance between development and conservation is delicate in mountain states, and as this region proves, even minor disturbances can have lasting impacts on fragile ecosystems.