Zoological enigmas of Vietnam

Dhole is an endangered carnivore, which has disappeared from many places from its original range, for us interesting is those covering territories in mainland Southeast Asia. It is believed to be functionally extirpated from Vietnam, but there are anecdotal reports of its continued existence in this region. Its potential habitats can harbor unnoticed populations in sparse, vast mountains and forests and undisturbed protected areas. In the sum, in the recent assessment, wild dogs in Vietnam have been classified as close to regional extinction due to hunting, depletion of prey base, and ruining the habitat (Hoffmann et al., 2019, Pooley et al. 2022). Camera trapping study called carnivore inventory, unmanned aerial vehicles project, tracking by GPS collars of selected rare species, visiting the centers of natural resources and survey of hunter’s gains from remote villages could be insights into natural history of this part of Indochina.Tracking animals by foot and by small helicopter or by using 4x4 cars, are faces of that kind of work. Getting up early for office work, undertaking transects during the day and checking up equipment (backpacks, research outfit etc.) are elements of this important job. Finally, the day we will discover a lost carnivore animal by the camera trap photos is a priceless gift.

The high mountains in the north have many wild furred animals like selenarto, small sun bear, big black squirrel, species of otters and civets (The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, 2010). Vast wilderness of north Vietnam are occupied by wild boar of common species but of a great size, ultra-rare are striped foxes, but there are monkeys such as white-cheecked langur and peculiar form of fig (Guide to Vietnam,1998). In accordance to iapad.org (2001) Pu Mat Nature Reserve, land in north-central Vietnam, is home to number of globally threatened mammals, including Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis, dhole Cuon alpinus, tiger Panthera tigris, Owston’s palm civet Chrotogale owstoni. Studies conducted by Greiser Johns (2000) and Tordoff et al. (2004) confirmed there existence of birds and mammal species such as saola, annamite striped rabbit, dhole, asian elephant as well as crested argus and rufous-necked hornbill, but it is unclear what their current population status is. Pu Mat Nature Reserve is within the Western Nghệ An Biosphere Reserve, part of the northern Annamite Range.

As moving more southwards there are also interesting territories and their inhabitants. Dholes were recorded in the past in the hill environments in the number of at least dozen packs in Cua and Dakrong District. According to local authorities, vietnam’s scientists and foreign experts, this environment is relatively in good condition.Moreover, ethnic people are aware of saving the given species and biodiversity of their native ecosystem (Cryptozoo News, 2006). Bach Ma National Park is Annamite Range protected area and is habitat located in central Vietnam, it is protected area, which harbor many rare animals including tram huong (Aquilaria crassna) and soi lua (Cuon alpinus) (vietnamplus.vn, 2015). Already known fauna and flora of south Annamite are as follows: monkeys, predators or ungulates as noticed Wikramanayake (n.d.).
Central Highlands are occupied by large animals, such as carnivores, ungulates and monkeys, but there are recorded species of smaller sizes. In 2020 survey carried out by team of scientists from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research confirmed in Nui Ba National Park presence of albino porcupines Hystrix brachyura, great muntjacs, civets Chrotogale owstoni, and sun bear as well as other creatures.

As for southern Vietnam and its lowland ecosystem there are some curiosities. Cat Tien National Park located in south Vietnam is a vast lowland tropical forest and is part of such an ecosystem. It is a great opportunity for scientists to study rare fauna and flora, including birds, reptiles and mammals, namely dholes, wild cats, giant flying squirrels, elephants and extremely rare rhinoceros (UNESCO report).

Great zoological discoveries of species on the verge of disappearance and works in the name of conservation will be important in the epoche of the extinction crisis. Vietnam is a great case study, where relatively rich biodiversity is documented and more species will came to be revealed in the future. Of course, the studying and saving charismatic species and those overlooked, that occur across the country is of great importance. More ecological studies and conservation of those remaining populations will be meaningful for science. As for dhole, other carnivores, ungulates or small mammals for sake of conservation, there are needed of understanding spatial ecology, habitat and feeding preferences, behavioral patterns of those creatures and their unknown populations, but also discoveries of similar species and define taxonomic incertae sedis.

Submitted by Tomasz Pietrzak, BSc biologist and author. Available by Creative Commons. Posted firstly on 12.2022. ID of text fk39hb23