The Scientific Centre of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has announced results of research it has carried out since 1998, which reveals that ten new animal species have been found in the park: five species of snake and five species of gecko and lizard. Some of them only exist in Phong Nha-Ke Bang, for example the Phong Nha-Ke Bang gecko, Cryptus gecko, ran luc sung (horned rattlesnake - Trimeresurus cornutus).

In addition, experts have discovered three endemic species of orchid and a 400-year-old population of Bach xanh (Calocedrus marcrolepis) discovered for the first time in Vietnam’s limestone mountains in the park.

According to a German expert on amphibians and reptiles, Phong Nha-Ke Bang still has many secrets that are waiting to be discovered, including many new species of amphibian and reptile.

Scientists initially identified 2,394 high-grade plant species, including special and rare ones listed in the Vietnam Red Book; 1,072 animal species, including 140 species of big animal, 36 species listed in the Vietnam Red Book, and 23 species on the World Conservation Union’s list of threatened species; 356 bird species and 162 fish species; 97 reptile species; and 47 amphibian species, including 18 listed in the Vietnam Red Book and 6 on the IUCN list of threatened species; 270 species of butterfly; and 50 species of aquatic animal in this park.

Ten primate species, accounting for half of the primate species in Vietnam, have been found in the park, with seven of them listed in the Vietnam Red Book.

(Source: Nhan Dan, VNS)