Zeeshan Mirza Discovers Over 60 New Species in India
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Indian biologist Zeeshan Mirza has discovered over 60 new species across India’s biodiversity hotspots, helping document the country’s rich wildlife before potential habitat loss.
📈 One key stat: More than 60 new-to-science species have been identified over the past decade, showcasing India’s vast undocumented biodiversity that needs urgent protection.
💬 One key quote: “Species may not even get named before they go extinct”
1️⃣ The big picture: Indian wildlife biologist Zeeshan Mirza has been conducting extensive research across India’s biodiversity hotspots, particularly in the Western Ghats and Himalayan regions. Through systematic scientific expeditions, he has identified more than 60 previously unknown species including snakes, tarantulas, and geckos. His discoveries range from a green pit viper named after a Harry Potter character to multiple new species of day geckos found in a single mountain range. Though these regions harbor exceptional biodiversity, many species remain undocumented and face serious threats from human development and the illegal pet trade.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Scientific documentation of India’s rich biodiversity continues to expand our understanding of the natural world. The discoveries highlight the incredible diversity still waiting to be found, especially in areas like the Western Ghats and Himalayas. New research techniques and careful documentation help protect these species by raising awareness of their existence and unique characteristics. The ongoing work also trains new generations of naturalists in proper species identification, creating a stronger foundation for future conservation efforts.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers need to be more careful about publishing precise location data to prevent illegal collection of newly discovered species. Scientific journals should require collection permits for new species descriptions to prevent illegal sourcing. Conservation efforts must address the growing human population pressure on biodiversity hotspots. Young naturalists need to develop proper identification skills to help document India’s biodiversity before species disappear due to habitat destruction.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Exploring India, finding new species: Interview with biologist Zeeshan Mirza
