Lam Dong (VNA) - A range of rare andendangered animal species in Vietnam and the world were discovered at the Bidoup-NuiBa National Park in the central highlands province of Lam Dong through acamera-trap survey on the site from October 2019 to March 2020.

According to national park director Dr Le Van Huong, the survey was jointly carriedout by the park’s management board, the Southern Institute of Ecology, and the LeibnizInstitute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz - IZW) from Germany.

The survey initially found that the park had a very high diversity of mammals, withat least 21 rare and precious species, including seven globally-threatened ones.

The most important discovery was the existenceof a large muntjac (Muntiacusvuquangensis), a ungulate that can only be found in the Truong Son Mountain Range(which runs from Vietnam’s north down to Lam Dong) and is featured on the International Union for Conservationof Nature (IUCN) Red List of Critically Endangered (CR) Species. Conservationists believe the speciesis indeed extinct in most forests in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the most surprising finding was the existence of an albino porcupine which had previously never been known in Southeast Asia’s natural forests.

Camera traps also captured images of some susceptible endemic species,including a civet (Chrotogale owstoni) and sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), which are nearingextinction due to illegal hunting.

Nguyen The Truong An, field coordinator with Leibniz-IZW, said the national parkis one of just a few nature reserves in Vietnam to be home to the civet.

Its presence and that of the sun bears shows that Bidoup-Nui Ba National Parkhas not overly suffered from hunting compared to other forests along the TruongSon Mountain Range, he said.

The survey aimed to explore the diversity of birds and mammals and develop amonitoring programme that could assess the status and population dynamics ofendangered species.

The second phase is being implemented from April to August, with about 120locations surveyed.

Covering an area of 34,943 ha, the Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park is the core areaof the Langbiang Biosphere Reserve, which was recognised by UNESCO in June 2015./.