[ Home |

ENDANGERED SPECIES REDISCOVERED IN YOK DON, DAK LAK PROVINCE

The Critically Endangered Giant Ibis has been re-discovered in Yok Don National Park. Scientists from BirdLife International working under contract with UNOPS on the Protected Areas Resource Conservation ((PARC) Project, a Government of Vietnam, GEF/UNDP undertaking in Yok Don National Park, Dak Lak province, Vietnam, have rediscovered the Giant Ibis during a biodiversity survey. Two Giant Ibis were observed by survey team members Ha Quy Quynh and Jonathan Eames, feeding at a small forest wetland in the central part of the national park on 6 March, 2003. The birds flew-off westwards towards Cambodia. These are the first sightings of Giant Ibis in Vietnam since 1931, when the species was encountered in Binh Phuoc province. The species was listed as Critically Endangered by BirdLife International in the Threatened Birds of Asia, The BirdLife International Bird Red Data Book, because it has a tiny, declining population that is threatened by habitat loss and disturbance. The species was believed to be extinct in Vietnam. The remaining global population, probably less than 500 individuals, is centred on northern Cambodia and extreme south Laos.

• The re-discovery of the Giant Ibis in Yok Don National Park considerably increases the conservation importance of the national park.
• The re-discovery of the Giant Ibis in Yok Don National Park is very timely, because the Government of Vietnam will shortly make a final decision on whether to route the "Ho Chi Minh Highway" through the national park. Both the proposed routes within the national park would either destroy or disturb the habitat of this species thereby undermining the integrity of the National Park.

"In order for Vietnam to fully discharge its responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which it has both signed and ratified, it is vital that the national park, and the population of the Giant Ibis therein, is not compromised by routing the road through the protected area" said Fernando Potess PARC Programme Leader.

"The Giant Ibis in Yok Don National Park form part of the population centred on Cambodia, and it is vital that no infrastructure or other development takes place in Yok Don as this will drive a wedge between these populations." said Colin McQuistan Site Task Manager PARC Yok Don.