Conservation of endangered wildlife

The Management Board of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve (Quang Tri Province) unexpectedly discovered an individual Asian bear (scientific name Ursus thibetanus) weighing about 150 kg, living in the reserve through a digital camera trap. This discovery attracted the attention of the public and many scientists to find sustainable solutions to preserve this rare and endangered bear species.

Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve is a place with a unique forest ecosystem, growing on limestone mountains, with a mixed structure of bamboo, broadleaf and coniferous trees, and a diverse flora, creating biodiversity, with species conservation value in Vietnam and internationally... With that special nature, Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve has many rare and precious wild animals living there.

Saola camera trap hits Asian bear

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Asiatic black bear is listed as a vulnerable species. In Vietnam, this species is listed in Appendix I, the list of endangered and rare species prioritized for protection according to Decree 160/2013/ND-CP and amended by Decree 64/2019/ND-CP.

Mr. Ha Van Hoan, Director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board, said: Within the framework of the project "Rescuing Saola from the Brink of Extinction", the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam, project partners and units have conducted a survey of Saola in areas with the highest potential for survival using camera traps and collecting environmental eDNA samples (leech samples and stream water samples) from August 2023 to June 2024.

The survey team worked hard to overcome difficult and complex terrain and harsh weather to complete the installation of 385 camera traps, each camera set up in the forest for at least two months. However, before any traces of the saola were recorded, the survey team recorded surprising results, images of the activity of the sun bear in the reserve. Mr. Ha Van Hoan recalled that at that time, the team was extremely happy, the discovery of the sun bear opened a new page in the protection of this rare and endangered animal species.

The discovered individual moon bear is estimated to weigh about 150 kg and is very active. This is a species of animal that can protect itself to survive in the wild, and is quite sensitive to nature, so it is difficult to camera trap. Currently, the management board has not discovered any other individual moon bears, nor can it determine the population of this species in the area.

However, according to many reports from local people, sometimes while going to the fields, they accidentally discover smaller sized bears. Mr. Ha Van Hoan added that in addition to Quang Tri, bears have also been discovered in other localities of Vietnam such as Quang Nam province in 2014 and Thanh Hoa province in 2024. The appearance of this species in natural forest areas is very remarkable, so conservation work needs to be carried out immediately.

The presence of the Asian black bear in the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve is an important indicator that the quality of the primary forests, the habitat of rare and endangered animals, is still maintained stably; forest management and protection activities are effective. This discovery also helps the management board of the reserve and scientists have more information to better protect Asian black bears; providing important data for the direction of future scientific research.

The distribution range of the Asiatic black bear in Quang Tri province is determined to be within the Huong Hoa-Da Krong biodiversity corridor, including the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve. This is a relatively safe area for existing wildlife to live, ensuring survival and development. However, the biggest threat is the risk of forest encroachment from hunting, trapping wildlife and illegal exploitation of forest products. Along with that is the noise impact from the construction of infrastructure works, hydropower plants, and road construction, affecting the lives of this species as well as other wildlife species.

A black bear was discovered at Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve using a camera trap. (Photo: Provided by the Reserve)

Safe environment for rare animals

Over the years, the Management Board of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve has made efforts to protect forest resources despite facing many difficulties such as limited resources and a large area. The protection efforts have achieved results, creating a safe environment for the survival of many rare and endangered animal species.

According to Mr. Ha Van Hoan, immediately after discovering the individual bear, the unit had many urgent solutions to protect it such as increasing coordination in patrols, removing traps in the forest, propagating and mobilizing people not to trap bears, and building a forest protection network in villages.

Coordinate with the International Organization for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam to mobilize resources and provide technical support to continue investigating biodiversity to have more scientific data, from which to develop a species conservation plan in the coming time. Survey and monitor the existing population of Asian black bears through camera traps; track traces and collect biological samples to determine the quantity, distribution, and health status of Asian black bear populations in the area.

However, the long-term solution requires cooperation with non-governmental organizations to mobilize resources for conservation, research, as well as sharing experiences, knowledge and resources in bear conservation. Develop sustainable livelihoods for local communities in the area through support for seedlings, breeds, forest protection contracts; support the development of agroforestry models, environmentally friendly economic models to reduce people's dependence on forests. At the same time, functional forces need to strengthen law enforcement, prevent illegal hunting; improve the capacity of conservation area staff, apply data management tools and patrol reports in monitoring patrols.

Also in this reserve, through previous years' investigations, the management board has recorded many species of wild animals living there such as: gaur, striped rabbit, white pheasant, red-throated partridge, red-cheeked laughingthrush, pangolin, mountain goat, siki gibbon, Hatinh langur, red-shanked douc langur, greater slow loris, lesser slow loris, red-faced monkey, pig-tailed monkey, jungle cat, hornbill...

Acting Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province, Ha Sy Dong, said: To have a sustainable solution to protect the sun bear, the province directed the Management Board of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve to coordinate with agencies and scientific units to advise the Department of Agriculture and Environment to develop an action program to conserve the sun bear species to submit to the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province to issue the action program.

Strive to develop the above conservation area into a national park by 2030 according to Decision No. 895/QD-CP dated August 24, 2024 on approving the National Forestry Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 of the Prime Minister. If this is done, it will be an opportunity to conserve the Asian black bear and other endangered wildlife species with support from domestic and international investment resources. “Above all, authorities at all levels and local communities need to cooperate more closely to protect and maintain the safety of Asian black bears as well as other rare animals, in order to reverse the extinction trend of Asian black bears and ensure biodiversity for forest areas,” emphasized Mr. Ha Sy Dong.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bao-ton-dong-vat-hoang-da-nguy-co-tuyet-chung-post861089.html