STATUS OF SAOLA POPULATION IN THUA THIEN HUE – QUANG ...

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STATUS OF SAOLA POPULATION IN THUA
THIEN HUE – QUANG NAM AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONSERVATION
METHODS
Nguyễn Xuân Đặng
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources

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FINDINGS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SAOLA
CONSERVATION
• Sample of saola horn were
first found by scientists in Ha
Tinh in 5/1992 and
promulgated as a new
species in 6/1993.
• The finding of saola shows
that central Annamites
ecological system still has
mysterious things to science;
this draws attention of many
scientists and international
organisations to discover
and support to conservation
of Central Annamite
ecological conservation

SIGNIFICANCE OF SAOLA
CONSERVATION
• Sao la can be an ancient species
existing for million years with the change
of climate and geology in South East
Asia. Therefore, saola is historical
evidence of the Great Annamites
ecological system.
• Sao la is considered by WWF as symbol
of biodiversity in Truong Son ecological
area.
• The biodiversity conservation
programme of the Green Corridor is an
effort to conserve saola and biodiversity
in Central Annamite.
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SAO LA DISTRIBUTION
• Sao la is endemic in Trường
Sơn (Việt Nam and Lào).
• In Lào, it is found in 4
provinces along border.
• In VN, it is found in 42
communes, 20 districts, 6
provinces of Nghệ An, Hà
Tỉnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị,
TT-Huế and Quảng Nam.
Adapt.from WWF
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VN
Lào

SAO LA STATUS
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• Small distribution, unstable inhabitant, including small scattered
populations, isolated.
• Number of individuals: haven’t survey yet. Estimated by scientists:
• in VN: “several hundred individuals” (Vũ Văn Dũng and assistants,
1993).
• In Lào: about 70-700 individuals (Timmins, 2001).
• National Action Plan of saola conservation 2005-2010 estimates:
• total saola is not over 250 individuals at present,
• Of which in Vietnam not over 200 individuals.
VN Rec Book: (E) N§ 32/2006/N§CP: Group 1B
IUCN Red Book: (EN) Proposed AP: Endanger (CR)

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THE MOST IMPORTANT POPULATION
In accordance with national
Action plan of saola
conservation, at present there
are 5-6 saola populations of
which the two most important
populations are:
• Population in the adjacent area
to Lệ Thuỷ district (Quảng
Bình) and Hương Hoá district
(Quảng Trị)
• Population in A Lưới-Nam
Đông (TT Huế) and Tây Giang,
Đông Giang (Quảng Nam
province).

In Huế
sao la
distribute i
quite large
area:
Hương Trà
Hương Thuỷ
A Lưới
Nam Đông
sao la Status in TT huÕ
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Number of sao la estimated by TT Hue FPD are 120-150 individuals (HNKhanh,
2004). Howver, it seems that this figure is optimistic (VNSAP, 2006).

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SAOLA STATUS IN QUANG NAM
• Survey and interview of MOSAIC project in 2002-2003 (Minh Hoàng
and assistants, 2004) and WWF, 12/2003 (Thẩm Ngọc Diệp and
assistants, 2004) show that saola still exist in communes of Song
Kôn, Tà Lu (Đông Giang), B’Halee, A Vương and A Nông (Tây
Giang).
• Our survey in 8/2006 collected new information that local people see
saola or saola was trapped in the recent two years in communes of
Sông Kôn, Tà Lu Đông Giang district; A Vương, B’Halee and A
Nông, Tây Giang. Most information of saola is collected in A Vương
commune and B’Halee commune, Tay Giang district.
• Number of individuals haven’t estimated yet, but very few.

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OPPORTUNITIES and challenges in saola
conservation in TT Hue - Quang Nam
Advantages
• In accordance with Action Plan of saola conservation, saola population in TT
Huế-Quảng Nam is known as the biggest one with about 50 individuals,
accounting for 1/5 total of number saola in the world. Therefore, this populations
is importance to saola conservation Vietnam in particular and the world in
general.
• TT Huế - Quảng Nam has quite large area of evergreen forest that is adjacent
to Lao forests – saola habitat.
• Authorities of 2 provinces, especially FPD are interested in biodiversity
conservation, especially sao la.
• There is support of international organisations, especially WWF – Greater
Mekong (Green Corridor project and MOSAIC project)

OPPORTUNITIES and challenges www.panda.org/greatermekong in
saola conservation in TT Hue – Quang
Nam
Challenges
• Wildlife hunting, especially big animal trapping is common in the area.
• Wildlife trade still happens.
• Forest is continuously lost, degraded and encroached by illegal hunting,
infrastructure development (roads).
• Many villages in the forest - saola inhabitant that causes negative
impacts on saola lives.
• Sao la live in the scattered mini population, the meeting of populations
can be difficult due to resident areas or encroachment.

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RECOMMENDATIONS ON SAOLA
CONSERVATION METHODS IN TTH-QN
First of all, as other saola areas it is necessary to :
Strengthen the control of hunting, trading of wildlife, especially
trapping of big animals in saola area.
Strengthen communication and awareness raising in forest and
wildlife protection to communities.
Undertake researches on saola ecological needs as the basic to
develop more effective conservation methods.

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RECOMMENDATIONS ON SAOLA
CONSERVATION METHODS IN TTH-QN
• To TT Huế - Quảng Nam, Action Plan of Saola Conservation
proposed to establish “Intensive Saola Protection Area) with area of
30-40.000 ha in the area between Ho Chi Minh highway and Bach
Ma National Park.
• In our opinion, it should establish a Saola reserve/ saola habitat in A
Roang commune, A luoi district as proposed by TT Hue FPD
• and “Intensive saola protection area” or “Saola landscape”
(proposed by MOSAIC project) that connects Saola reserve/ saola
habitat in A Roang to Bach Ma extension area.

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Saola landscape area will include forest areas in the South of Thượng Long, Thượng Quảng communes
(TT Huế) and north of B’Halee, A Vương, Tà Lu, Sông Kôn communes (Quảng Nam)

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