Southeast Asia is one of the most ecologically productive eco-systems in the world that plays home to many unique species of animals and plants that cannot be found in other regions (or otherwise known as endemics — i.e., species found no place else).

Photo Credits: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog030/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog030/files/Biodiversity_Hotspots_Map.jpg

However, illegal wildlife trade  is heavily depleting these natural resources at an alarmingly rate. A “biodiversity hotspot” is a concept established by Dr. Norman Myers, whom is a prominent British environmentalist specialising in biodiversity. It refers to areas in the world where “there is a  significant reservoir of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction, with less than 30% of its area remaining.” Unfortunately, out of of 25 biodiversity hotspots found in the world, 4 of them are overlapping in the Southeast Asia region, which further illustrates how the damage is imminent and irreversible.

Biologists have now invented a new term to describe the state of damage in Southeast Asian Forest, and it is called the “empty forest syndrome”. Large pieces of forested land are now found to be devoid of their animal counterparts, leaving gaps in biodiversity. Some of these animals hunted such as tigers are top predators which help to keep the number of biodiversity in check while others such as elephants are said to aid seed dispersal. With the absence of these animals, it inevitably leads to the eco-system being gradually thrown off balance.