The largest camera trap survey ever conducted by conservation organizations across 21 forests in Vietnam has captured images of several rare and elusive animal species that are difficult to encounter in the wild.
The Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation project, primarily funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has recently announced the results of the largest camera trap survey to date in Vietnam.
To document images of wildlife in deep forests, the project established 1,176 camera trap points in 21 special-use forests and protective forests across 8 provinces and cities.
A rare individual wild boar captured by a camera trap in Cat Tien National Park. This species is classified as vulnerable in Vietnam and has a narrow distribution range. Cat Tien National Park is home to the largest population of wild boars in Vietnam.
The camera trap survey was conducted from 2019 to 2023. Millions of images were taken, documenting 120,000 wildlife observations. The image shows a Sunda civet discovered in Cuc Phuong National Park.
The Asian golden cat recorded in Vu Quang National Park, Ha Tinh Province. This is one of the rarest civet species in the world, found sporadically from Northern to Central Vietnam. Additionally, this species has also been recorded in the western region of Laos and southern China.
The camera trap captured a population of brown-shanked doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus) in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. This is a rare endemic primate species currently listed as critically endangered in Vietnam. Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang is known to have the largest population of brown-shanked doucs.
A Vietnamese pheasant was recorded in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. This is a rare bird species in Vietnam, highly valued for its scientific, aesthetic, and commercial significance. Over the years, the population of this species has rapidly declined due to habitat loss and poaching.
An Asiatic black bear was recorded in the protective forest of Tay Giang. Once widespread in Vietnam, the population of Asiatic black bears in the wild has now become very rare, with a significantly reduced range.
A sun bear was also recorded in the Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve. Sun bears are notably larger than Asiatic black bears, characterized by their long black fur and a V-shaped white patch on their chest. They are listed in the Red List of the World Conservation Union, as one of the species threatened with extinction that needs conservation.
A Sunda pangolin was recorded in Vu Quang National Park. In 1994, the first individual of this species was documented in Vietnam, marking it as a new species for the world. This species is extremely rare and has significant conservation value, categorized as critically endangered.
Truong Son Langurs were recorded in Song Thanh National Park. This is also a rare species with a limited distribution range, primarily living in old-growth forests, making them vulnerable to hunting and trapping.
The camera trap recorded an individual muntjac in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Once widely distributed across Vietnam, sightings of muntjac in the wild have become increasingly rare. This species is currently categorized as vulnerable due to excessive hunting and habitat loss.
The rare Truong Son striped rabbit was also recorded during this camera trap survey. This is an endemic rabbit species found in the Vietnam-Laos border area and was first documented in 2000 in Central Vietnam (Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh). This rabbit species is considered an ancient species and is one of the two rare striped rabbit species in the world.
According to the project management board, the results of the camera trap survey indicate that while wildlife has severely declined in the 21 special-use forests and protective forests, the species richness and the number of endemic species are relatively high, with 9 endemic species and 21 species endemic to the Truong Son range. Rare species such as the Sunda pangolin and Asiatic black bear were also discovered, contributing to the documentation of these species in Vietnam over the past 20 years.
The second phase of the project is currently underway in the 21 special-use forests and protective forests, aiming to assess the biodiversity trends in the project areas. The second camera trap survey is expected to conclude in 2025.
