Considered one of the major biodiversity hotspots in the world, Vietnam can be painted as a land of exotic flora and fauna. A tropical climate and massive rainforests in the southeast corner of Asia have provided the most favorable conditions for wildlife in Vietnam to flourish. More than 26000 species of living organisms have been discovered to date, and this number continues to grow.
Vietnam’s biodiversity of flora and fauna includes aerial, land, and aquatic species of plants, insects, birds, and animals. Unfortunately, 10% of this numeral has been threatened with extinction, as reported by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). At this critical point, the Vietnamese government, along with the support of global organizations like UNESCO, has come up with more than 30 national parks, protected areas, and UNESCO biodiversity reserves for the preservation of Vietnamese wildlife.
Wildlife in Vietnam
Among Vietnam's famously recognized fauna are Gray and Red-shanked douc, which are endangered langurs. One can also find large mammals such as the Asiatic elephants, Sun bear or honey bear, Indo-Chinese tigers, leopards, and wild boars. Bats, flying squirrels, Otters, and Pygmy slow loris are some of the smaller inhabitants found. In the feathered department, notable species include the Great Hornbill, White-winged wood duck, White-shouldered Ibis, Edward's pheasant, Yellow-billed nuthatch, and many more. Most of these species are considered to be endangered. Rhinoceros species, such as the Vietnamese Javan rhino and Northern Sumatran rhino, can now only be seen in pictures.Some of the endemic and fascinating creatures of Vietnam are the following -
1. Water Buffalo - A Goodluck Charm for the Vietnamese
This grey-colored animal has bagged the rank of National animal of Vietnam because of its more than 5000 years of friendship with humans and support in building the nation’s economy. Seven feet tall and weighing more than 1000 kilograms, this quacking beast is considered a lucky and prosperity-bringing animal. They spend most of their time daydreaming in water and grazing over the green field vegetation and water plants. Water buffaloes are also prominent in sports, and they participate in the nerve-chilling, adrenaline-boosting ‘Buffalo Fight Festival’ held once yearly in the city of Haiphong. But the greed and witty intelligence of humans have put this name on the list of endangered species.
2. Honey Bears - The Sweet Toothed Residents
Honey Bears, as their names suggest, love to eat honey. They are covered in jet-black colored fur and have a golden-orange colored face and a white-creamy patch on the front of their neck and chest. They are also known as Sun bears because of the color of their skin, which is reddish brown. Rapid destruction of their natural habitat and strong competition from other wild animals like tigers are the leading causes of these furry creatures becoming endangered.
3. Flying Squirrels - Tiny Winged Tree Dwellers
At first sight, they might look like bats gliding from perch to perch and hiding in the holes carved in wooden trunks of trees. But the flying squirrels are the cousins of the regular squirrels, who developed wings and can fly short distances. They dwell in groups just like their non-winged brethren. The fascinating thing about their flight is they can glide up to 300 feet and even quickly change directions mid-flight.
4. Vietnamese Mossy Frog
Dwelling in Northern Vietnam, the Mossy Vietnamese Frog has a very peculiar look. It can camouflage itself superbly with its surroundings. The green-colored rock-textured skin with black spots makes it unpleasant to look at, but this only protects it from predators.
5. Asian Water Monitor - The Finest Swimmers
The endemic lizards of South Vietnam are in good demand for their hide and skin to make accessories. They are usually found in the waters, on the land in forests, and sometimes even on the busy roads of Vietnam in search of food. These giant lizards grow up to 2 meters in length, weighing almost 50 kilograms. They are world-class swimmers and are very intelligent yet friendly lizards. But if you tease them, they will fight back with their strong claws and bite you with their sharp teeth. So be careful.
6. Horned Sea Star - Beautiful cum Beastly
Found in the waters of Phu Quoc National Park, Vietnam, the horned sea star looks like any regular starfish. But these creatures are not to be trifled with, as their protruding black horns can scare off any enemies. They are highly harvested for their skeleton business, which poses a threat to their existence. Because of their color combination of red or brown shades with black horns stuck on them like chocolate chips on a cookie, these horn stars are also known as Chocolate chip sea stars.
7. Edward’s Pheasant
Mostly found in the wetlands of Central Vietnam, this red-legged bird sacrificed many of its community members in the war in Vietnam and has been listed as the endangered species. The males are more beautiful than females, with vibrant black and blue shades as compared to the dull brown females, offering a good sight for the lady visitors in Vietnam. UNESCO and the Vietnamese Government are making efforts to conserve and protect this species from completely becoming extinct.
8. Hornbill - A Majestic Treat to Your Eyes
The great hornbills are easy to spot in Vietnam because of their characteristic features. Living a prideful life of 50 years, this bird is adored for its long, bright yellow casque on its bill. They have stunning eyes, with females having bluish-white colored eyes, whereas male hornbills have a pair of red eyes and, on top of it, luscious thick eyelashes. It’s a treat to watch this black-and-yellow beauty among the greens of Vietnamese forests.
National Parks in Vietnam
1. Bach Ma National Park
The Bach Ma National Park is located in the Annamite Mountains, which offers an exceptional view of Vietnam's rich biodiversity. This area of Vietnam receives the highest rainfall, which keeps it wet and cool annually, making it favorable for life to flourish. If you are here to see the variation of the Vietnamese biodiversity, then Bach Ma National Park will never disappoint you. Among these tropical woods, you can easily spot wild animals like the Asian Elephant, Red-shanked Douc (Langur), and many insects as well. Some of this national park's feathered residents include Edward's Pheasant, Brown Hornbill, Laughingthrush, Crested Argus, varieties of Kingfisher, and lots of other birds. Also, thousands of colorful orchids adorn the nature trail of Bach Ma National Park, making its exploration highly aesthetic.
2. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
More than 300 caves of limestone are present in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which resides beside the calming waters of the Chay River. Tourists are allowed to explore these caves, which are located in the north-central region of Vietnam with a territory of 2000 km sq. The largest cave on earth, the Son Doong Cave, is one of the main highlights of this national park. UNESCO officially recognizes Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as a World Heritage site. While exploring the caves and secret waters of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, one will come across various cave-dwelling insects and mammals. In the evergreen bamboo forests reside the Saola, Water Monitors, Black bears, and langurs.
Wildlife in Vietnam is truly so diverse and enchanting that it is a paradise for nature enthusiasts, wildlife researchers, and photographers. So, explore the wild side of Vietnam and discover the true potential of Mother Earth.