A recent expedition team in Quang Binh has discovered a strange species in the strictly protected area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
On June 16, Mr. Le Luu Dung, Director of Jungle Boss Co., Ltd., a tourism development company in Quang Binh, reported that the company’s expedition team had just discovered a strange species in Hung Cave, located within Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
According to the expedition team, this organism was found scattered on the surface of the stalagmites in Hung Cave, approximately 300 meters from the cave entrance.
The expedition team discovered the strange species scattered on the surface of the stalagmites in Hung Cave, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (Photo: Jungle Boss).
Visually, this organism has a main body that is opaque white, consisting of multiple branches that split from the base, resembling starfish. Above is a secondary body made up of many tentacle-like strands, about a hand’s breadth high, white in color, and capable of stretching.
This organism has a main body that is opaque white, consisting of multiple branches that split from the base, resembling starfish (Photo: Jungle Boss).
Within an area of approximately 20m2 in the cave, the expedition team found 40-50 individuals of this species scattered throughout. Notably, although the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park contains many caves, the expedition team discovered this organism only in Hung Cave.
“We have sent images of this organism to professional caving expedition groups, but no one has seen it before. Based on our observations, this could be a new species in the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang, and further in-depth research is needed,” Mr. Dung stated.
