Western Ghats, India

The Western Ghats mountain chain is older than the Himalayas and is recognised as one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity. Its high mountain forests influence the Indian monsoon weather system and for this reason the Western Ghats are home to many species of wildlife that are not found anywhere else in the world, including at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.