Wildlife of Vietnam

Saola, rare and antelope-like animal categorized under the bovine subfamily, was found in 1992 in Vũ Quang National Park.

The objective for creating national parks was to allow access to the reserved areas as a part of ecotourism and cultural needs with full attention to the basic approach of conservation of natural environmental resources.

[17] The country was once totally covered with forests but over the years due to the war and deforestation and anthropological pressures some areas have lost their biodiversity value.

[19] According to the Conservation International List Vietnam is identified as the fifth biodiversity hot spot in the world, on account of its exotic flora and fauna.

Rainforest in the hilly region has wild rhododendrons in the northwest along with dwarf bamboos and numerous types of orchids.

The Vietnamese Javan rhinoceros used to live throughout the region of Vietnam but was declared extinct in 2010 when the last remaining individual was found dead with the horn removed.

Such populations can be crucial for a species to survive, for example the Vietnamese pond turtle is present in captivity despite being rare or extinct in the wild.

[24] Rare and little known birds have been identified such as the Edward's pheasant which was believed to be extinct, the white-winged wood duck and the white-shouldered ibis.

The country lies on the east Asian flyway of Siberian birds and is an important stopover for migratory waders.

[4] The marine molluscan fauna of Vietnam includes numerous species of chitons, gastropods, tusk shells, cephalopods and bivalves.

The reasons adduced to this situation are; the Vietnam war, deforestation, hunting, export of animals under CITES agreement which is generally violated by illegal activity due to inadequate patrolling.

As a result of conservation efforts, Siamese crocodile numbers have recovered on account of their reintroduction to ponds within the parks.