Discovered a species of chevrotain thought to be extinct 30 years ago in Vietnam

Ha Linh/Tin Tuc Newspaper DNUM_BDZBBZCABJ 09:02

For the first time in three decades, scientists have photographed a small, rabbit-like creature that looks like a deer and was thought to be extinct. It is the silver-backed chevrotain and it has appeared in the Nha Trang forest.

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Silver-backed chevrotains were discovered in Nha Trang. Photo: CNN.Many news agencies and TV channels such as the Guardian (UK), National Geographic and CNN (USA)... have reported on this special discovery.

Scientists first recorded information about the silver-backed chevrotain in 1910. In 1990, a hunter turned over a silver-backed chevrotain (Tragulus versicolor) to researchers, and that was the last time scientific data were available about this rare animal.

“For a long time, the silver-backed chevrotain has existed only in our imagination,” said biologist An Nguyen of the NGO Global Wildlife Conservation. “Finding them alive in the wild is the first step in ensuring we don’t lose them again and act quickly to find the best way to protect them.”

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The research team set up a camera to film the silver-backed chevrotain. Photo: Guardian

The silver-backed chevrotain is on Global Wildlife Conservation's list of 25 endangered species. Scientists believe the silver-backed chevrotain is at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and hunting.

Details of the discovery of the silver-backed chevrotain in Nha Trang were published on November 11 in the scientific journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

CNN reported that a team of scientists interviewed locals and rangers near the coastal city of Nha Trang, then set up cameras for five months around areas where silver-backed chevrotains were suspected to be. Through this effort, the scientists took 1,881 photos of silver-backed chevrotains in five months.

According to GWC, the silver-backed chevrotain is not a mouse or a deer, but the world's smallest ungulate. They are quite shy, live in herds, have two cross-toothed fangs, and weigh less than 4.5 kg.

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Discovered a species of chevrotain thought to be extinct 30 years ago in Vietnam
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