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Ba Na Nature Reserve 1996
A number of other mammals, including the Asiatic Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), were
reported to be present by local people and hunters. S. thibetanus is included in the Red Data Book
for Vietnam (Phan Dong Vat, 1992).
The earlier Frontier phase, VN9401, reported several mammals which were not seen by members
of the VN9503 phase. These included the Golden Cat (Felis temmincki), sighted from a distance
of about five metres in secondary forest. This species is listed as 'Vulnerable' in the Red Data
Book for Vietnam (Phan Dong Vat, 1992). Common Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak) and
Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) were both common and regularly killed by hunters. The Common Barking
Deer is listed in the RDB as a 'Vulnerable' species. In addition, the Hog Deer (Cervus porcinus)
was reported. The RDB considers this species to be 'Endangered', and Ba Na is outside its range
as given in Lekagul and McNeeley (1977). Although hunters were observed entering and leaving
the forest during the VN9503 phase, none of these large mammals appeared to be taken in this
period. Species taken from the forest by hunters included Malayan Pangolin, (Manis javanica),
Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata), and Asiatic Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetanus).
Hunters also reported the presence of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar), but Ba Na is well
outside the range of this species as given in Mammals of Thailand (Lekagul and McNeely, 1977),
and the White-cheeked Gibbon (H. leucogenys) seems a more likely species for this area,
although no gibbons were directly observed on either Frontier phase.
11.3 Conclusions
A total mammal list of 29 species was produced by the two Frontier phases at Ba Na.
Although relatively few large mammals were observed during VN9503, the reserve is obviously
relatively rich in mammals given its small size. The presence of nationally endangered mammals
(particularly Cervus porcinus, Cuon alpinus and Selenarctos thibetanus) increases the
conservation value of the reserve.
However, hunting of these species must be a cause for concern, especially given the accessibility
of the Ba Na area from large population centres (and markets for game and wild mammal
products). Even if hunting was prevented within the Ba Na reserve, if it continues in the
surrounding forest (or if surrounding forest is lost or replaced by plantations), it is possible that
the larger mammal species could be driven to extinction within the reserve, unable to maintain
viable populations in the small protected area.
Frontier- Vietnam Environment Research Report 7 31