Standing a metre tall and weighing up to a whopping 18 kilograms, the Great Indian bustards (GIB) are one of the heaviest flying birds on Earth. Yet, they are unable to ‘throw their weight around’ in this world dominated by us. Their numbers have drastically declined by nearly 90% in the last 50 years, and the future of these charismatic birds look very bleak.
A team of researchers have discovered a new species of ginger hidden in the lush, remote Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. Named Parakaempferia alba, the plant was identified by researchers from the CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology and local colleges. The discovery, published in the Nordic Journal of Botany, marks a major milestone for the region’s biodiversity, as it is only the second species ever found within its specific genus.
