The Phong Dien Nature Reserve boasts a rich biodiversity, hosting 38 species of mammals, 204 species of birds, 35 species of reptiles and amphibians, along with 755 plant species. Many rare animal species here are recognized by both international organizations and Vietnam as being at high risk of extinction.
Phong Dien Nature Reserve (PDNR) is located across Phong Dien and A Luoi districts in Thua Thien Hue, encompassing 43 sub-zones over a total area of 40,789.02 hectares. This area has been noted as one of the global biodiversity hotspots and is one of the last habitats for the critically endangered White-Crested Gibbon, which was rediscovered in 1996.
The PDNR has captured a significant number of images of various bird and mammal species, including the Asian Golden Cat, Indochinese rabbit, and Black Francolin, among others.
The PDNR is a habitat for endemic bird species of the lowland areas, serving as a crucial habitat for important bird species, where 6 out of 8 narrow-range bird species of the Central Lowland Endemic Bird Area have been recorded, including the White-Crested Gibbon, Central Vietnam Chicken, Black Francolin, Gray-Headed Parrotbill, Long-Billed Parrotbill, and Gray-Checked Warbler.
According to the PDNR leadership, recent field surveys have highlighted the region’s importance in terms of biodiversity, with 38 species of mammals, 204 species of birds, 35 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 755 plant species. Many of these have been recognized internationally and within Vietnam as being at high risk of extinction.
“To effectively monitor biodiversity, camera traps are used as a ‘powerful assistant’ to support the research and monitoring of wildlife species. A total of 51 camera trap stations are systematically spread throughout the reserve.”
Thanks to the motion and thermal sensors of the camera traps, these ‘assistants’ can capture images of all animals weighing over 550 grams at a rate of 12 images/3 seconds, even in the dark and on complex terrain,” said Mr. Le Van Huong, Director of Phong Dien Nature Reserve.
Some images of rare animal species recorded at the PDNR via camera traps:
The Asian Golden Cat (locally known as the Golden Cat) is threatened by hunting due to its economic value…
The Wild Cat lives in degraded secondary forests without a fixed habitat. This species is agile, climbs well, forages at night, and sleeps during the day in tree hollows, caves, dense bushes, or on thick branches.
The Brown-Shanked Douc belongs to the Old World monkey family and is the most vividly colored among primate species. The Brown-Shanked Douc is a leaf-eating monkey endemic to the Indochinese region, primarily found in Vietnam, Laos, and a small part of northeastern Cambodia, and is currently one of the rare animals that need protection.
The Indochinese Hare is endemic to the Annamite Range, recently described and only found in the northern and central parts of the Annamite landscape. This species is currently classified as data deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Owston’s Civet is classified as Critically Endangered. This species is almost endemic to the Annamite Range, with its range severely restricted to the border regions of Laos and Vietnam…
Sambar Deer is categorized as Vulnerable but has a wide distribution and is not endemic. The presence of this species is a positive sign, but overall, with very few recorded sightings, this species faces the risk of local extinction in the Central Annamite landscape.
The Black Francolin is listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List 2024 as Critically Endangered (CR). The Black Francolin forages on the ground, and trapping is the greatest threat to its survival…
