Hoan Kiem Lake turtle is among the world's 100 most endangered species.
Five Vietnamese animals have just been listed in the world's 100 most endangered species, including the Hoan Kiem turtle..
Turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo:WCS/PA.
The report, titled "The World's 100 Most Endangered Species: Priceless or Worthless?", is the result of the work of more than 8,000 scientists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The list was announced at the World Conservation Congress in Jeju Island, South Korea, on September 11.
Vietnamese species on the list include: Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), white-crested pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), Hoan Kiem Lake turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), Pangasius sanitwongsei (catfish family) and Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus).
In the world, there are only 4 turtles living in Hoan Kiem Lake, Dong Mo Lake and the remaining two in China. In recent times, to preserve this species, scientists in Hanoi have brought one up for medical treatment and released it back into the wild last year. However, to date, leaders and scientists have not yet come up with a plan to breed the turtles in Hoan Kiem Lake.
The white-crested pheasant, which lives in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces, is threatened with extinction. According to scientists, it is gradually disappearing due to over-hunting and habitat loss. Conservationists call for measures to restore living conditions and carry out breeding programs.
Saola - known as "Asian unicorn", is one of the most endangered mammals in Southeast Asia. This species has only a few individuals living in the Truong Son mountain range, along the Vietnam - Laos border.
The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is one of 25 primate species facing extinction globally and is endemic to Vietnam. There are only four species of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys in the world, three of which are found in China and one in Vietnam. Although Vietnamese law protects the monkeys, they are still being hunted and their numbers are decreasing rapidly. It is estimated that there are less than 200 left in the wild, in the forests of northeastern Vietnam.
Swordfish live mainly in the Mekong River basin, Vietnam. They have been listed in the Red Book by the conservation organization since 1996.
In the list of 100 endangered species selected from 48 different countries, researchers highlighted the three-toed pygmy sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) - the world's smallest species facing a serious risk of extinction. This species is only found on the island of Escudo, about 17 km off the coast of Panama, Central America.
Funders often prioritise projects and programmes that benefit people, making it difficult for conservationists to protect species, says Jonathan Baillie, ZSL’s director of conservation."We need to make a crucial decision: Do these species have a right to exist or do humans have the right to drive them to extinction?" said Jonathan Baillie.
"All the species in the report are endemic and difficult to replace. If they disappear, no amount of money can bring them back," added Ellen Butcher, who works at ZSL.
According to Express-M
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