Southeast Asia

Despite Southeast Asia covering only 3% of the world's total land area, it is home to a quarter of the Earth’s plant and animal species. "Southeast Asia is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, containing iconic mammal and bird species such as tigers, Asian elephants, gibbons, orangutans, vultures, and ibises. The explosion in the human population over the last century has resulted in rapid loss of habitat across the region, in many places leaving small pockets of protected areas in a sea of humanity. These protected areas continue to suffer as agricultural and urban development encroaches and illegal hunting impacts dwindling wildlife populations. Given the low numbers of these animals remaining, disease outbreaks pose a significant increase in risk of extirpation."

"Wild Places: Southeast Asia," Wildlife Conservation Society.