Three Monkeys Wildlife Conservancy has recently completed an assessment of Delacour’s langur in the Yen Mo Limestone Complex. This provided valuable insights into other wildlife species inhabiting the area. Ground transects and drone surveys revealed the presence of notable wildlife, including the Indochinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii maritimus). Given its rarity and vulnerable status, the presence of the Indochinese serow is particularly noteworthy and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts.
The drone survey counted only five serows across the entire Yen Mo Limestone Complex, highlighting their precarious situation. Two adult-juvenile pairs were located in the Tam Diep District Forest, while three other individuals were scattered throughout the Yen Mo District Forest. The low numbers underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these elusive creatures.
Several threats imperil the survival of the Indochinese serow in Vietnam. Hunting activities, although not directly targeting the serow, pose a significant risk. Ground surveys revealed the presence of traps, indicating ongoing hunting pressure that affects local fauna, including the serow.
Human activities such as waste disposal, agriculture, and burning further degrade their habitat. The presence of large numbers of goats, which compete with serows for resources and damage vegetation, exacerbates the situation.
One of the most concerning threats is quarrying. Our study found that quarrying activities have already affected approximately 6% of the Yen Mo Limestone Complex, particularly along its southern border in Thanh Hoa Province. The relentless expansion of quarrying observed in the neighboring Kim Bang Limestone Complex, where 25% of the area has been excavated, foreshadows a dire future for the Yen Mo Limestone Complex if left unchecked.
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NGO with headquarter in Belgium (registration number: 0741.669.522)
