Phong Nha - Ke Bang Biodiversity Explored in Planet Earth 3

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers an area of 123,326 hectares in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. The park is famous for its spectacular cave system, which is the largest and most diverse in the world. However, the park is also home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, including many rare and endangered species.

According to the Fauna & Flora International (FFI), the park has four species classified as endangered on a global scale: Ha Tinh langurs, black monkeys, langurs and iridescent white cheeked gibbons. These primates are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and poaching. The park has established a rescue and conservation center to protect and rehabilitate these animals, and to raise awareness among the local communities.

Another critically endangered species that lives in the park is the saola, also known as the Asian unicorn. The saola is a rare and elusive bovine that was first discovered by science in 1992. The saola has long and curved horns, and a white stripe on its face. The saola lives in the dense forests of the Annamite Range, a mountain chain that stretches from Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia. The saola's habitat is threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and snaring, which pose a serious risk to its survival. The saola has been rarely seen in the wild, with only a few confirmed sightings and camera trap images. The park has set up camera traps and patrols in the area where the saola is suspected to occur, and has contacted the experts from the Saola Working Group, a network of conservationists and researchers dedicated to saving the saola from extinction.

The park also hosts several globally threatened plant species, such as “bách xanh đá” (Calocedrus rupestris Aver.), a rare and ancient tree species listed in Vietnam's Red Book. The tree is in danger of extinction globally. It often takes root on ancient Karst cliffs, hidden among the clouds at up to a thousand meters in altitude on the park's limestone ranges. The park has a botanical garden where it propagates and preserves the tree and other rare plants, such as orchids and medicinal herbs. The park also supports the research and development of the plants' medicinal value and potential uses.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a sanctuary for rare and endangered species, offering a rare and unforgettable opportunity for those who seek to discover the secrets of the natural world. The park is a testament to the diversity and wonder of Vietnam's natural heritage, and a destination not to be missed by nature lovers.

Planet Earth III is a 2023 British nature documentary series that features the spectacular and mysterious caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. The park is home to the largest and most diverse cave system in the world, including Son Doong, the world's largest cave, and Hang Va, a cave with a unique and unknown formation of tower cones.

One of the remarkable wildlife that lives in the dark depths of these caves is the blind fish. These fish are white and have no eyes, and they survive on nutrients washed in from the jungle above. The blind fish are adapted to the extreme conditions of the cave environment, such as low oxygen, high carbon dioxide, and constant darkness. The blind fish have evolved to lose their eyes and pigmentation, which are useless and costly in the cave. They also have a reduced metabolism and a slow growth rate, which help them conserve energy and cope with the scarcity of food. The blind fish have a keen sense of smell and touch, which help them navigate and find prey in the cave.

To explore more about animals living here, check out the article on Life at Son Doong Cave.

The Oxalis Experience.