Fairrie's Paphiopedilum
CR

Fairrie's Paphiopedilum

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international orchid trade, with wild populations systematically harvested for their distinctive blooms. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited Himalayan range has fragmented remaining populations. The species' extremely slow growth rate and specialized pollination requirements make recovery particularly challenging once populations decline.

Threat summary

Habitat

This terrestrial orchid inhabits cool, humid montane forests at elevations between 1,500-2,200 meters in the Eastern Himalayas. It grows in humus-rich soils on steep slopes under dense forest canopy, requiring consistent moisture and filtered light conditions.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Fairrie's Paphiopedilum classified as Critically Endangered?
Fairrie's Paphiopedilum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Paphiopedilum fairrieanum faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international orchid trade, with wild populations systematically harvested for their distinctive blooms. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited Himalayan range has fragmented remaining populations. The species' extremely slow growth rate and specialized pollination requirements make recovery particularly challenging once populations decline.
Where does Fairrie's Paphiopedilum live?
Fairrie's Paphiopedilum occurs in Bhutan, and India. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Fairrie's Paphiopedilum?
The main threats to Fairrie's Paphiopedilum are 11.1, 2.3, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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