Endangered muntjac spotted in Phong Dien Nature Reserve

The rare muntjac recently discovered in Phong Dien Nature Reserve. Photo: Phong Dien Nature Reserve

The rare muntjac recently discovered in Phong Dien Nature Reserve. Photo: Phong Dien Nature Reserve

Phong Dien Nature Reserve was established in 2006, covering an area of nearly 41,000 hectares in A Luoi and Phong Dien districts. In order to achieve such result, hundreds of camera traps were placed invarious places for months.

In March 2021, officials from the Management Board of Phong Dien Nature Reserve and the Viet Nature set out into the deep forest to set up more than 100 camera traps. "There were days when we had to cross the forest for more than 30km, climbing from one mountain slope to another," said Tran Van Nhat, an engineer, a member of the trapping team.

One day, at the end of May, the group came back to the forest to retrieve the traps. Among the collected photos were images of the rare muntjacs, which were guessed an endangered ungulatespecies after being searched on internet.

Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan - Director of Phong Dien Nature Reserve was filled with joy upon hearing the news, as the muntjacs were thought to have become extinction. They were captured in more than 10 photos, clear and detailed, in both daytime and nighttime.

Immediately, Mr. Nguyen Dai Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development contacted Dr. Rob Timmins - Technical Director of Saola Foundation, the world's leading expert on ungulate, for further confirmation.

From the images sent in, Dr. Rob Timmins declared that they were not large-antlered muntjacs, but more likely Truong Son muntjacs (Muntiacus truongsonensis) or Roosevelt’s muntjacs (Muntiacus rooseveltorum), said Saola Foundation Chief Technical Advisor Rob Timmins. Both are endemic ungulate species that have just been discovered or re-discovered in Vietnam and Laos.

In addition to the discovery of endangered muntjacs, more than 100 camera traps also captured photos of many other precious animal and bird species. Among them are endangered species such as the crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata or rheinarte d'Annam), Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi), serow, red-faced monkey, civet... in higher number than previous trips.

Mr. Nguyen Dai Anh Tuan, in an interview with us, declared that with the recent findings, the Central Truong Son ecological region still had many interesting mysteries to be discovered. Thus, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development would continue to work with international organizations for effective plans for conservation work in the area as well as building a world biosphere reserve for the green corridor connecting existing protected areas in the province.

* Pictures of recently discovered rare animals:

The unique photo with the simultaneous appearance of two muntjacs thought to be extinct. Photo: Phong Dien Nature Reserve