Researchers indicate that the population of wild cattle in the Ea Sô Nature Reserve (Dak Lak Province) – the largest ungulate fauna system in Vietnam – is facing a serious threat due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.
Recently, although forest rangers in this area have been actively preventing locals from entering the forest to hunt, the limited manpower has made it impossible to completely stop illegal wildlife hunting. In 2004, two gaur were shot dead in this area. Since the beginning of this year, one gaur has also been killed, and two wild cattle have died under unclear circumstances.
Additionally, within the reserve, there are two cattle farms that could negatively impact the wild cattle population, as experts suggest that domestic cattle can transmit diseases to wild populations.
Dr. Pham Trong Anh from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and Master Nguyen Manh Ha from the Environmental Resources Research Center recently encountered 12 herds of wild cattle in the Ea Sô Nature Reserve, including 8 herds of gaur and 4 herds of wild cattle.
