According to WildAct, a Vietnam-based wildlife conservation organization, although the animal only passed briefly across the camera, the park and species and habitat management experts have confirmed the presence of the mainland serow in Chu Yang Sin National Park.

Experts said this is a positive sign, showing that conservation efforts in Chu Yang Sin are creating a habitat safe enough for the species to survive in the Central Highlands.

The mainland serow is listed as endangered in Vietnam’s Red Data Book. The species once had a wide distribution across the country, but shrinking habitat and hunting have pushed it to the brink of extinction.

Conservationists estimate the population has declined by more than 50% over the past 30 years, making the species extremely rare in the wild.

The mainland serow has a robust body and small horns. Its scientific name shows this feature, with Capricornis derived from the Latin capra (goat) and cornu (horn), meaning “horned goat”. Its body is covered with thick, long and coarse fur in dark grey or ash tones, creating a distinctive appearance in mountainous forests.

The animal is also a strong climber, inhabiting rocky cliffs at elevations from 50 to 2,000 metres. Its cloven hooves allow it to grip narrow rock ledges just a few centimetres wide and move across steep terrain.

However, according to WildAct experts, these abilities do not help the mainland serow avoid snares and hunting. Although it lives on steep cliffs, the species still moves down to lower areas to find food and water, where it becomes vulnerable to hunting.

During a patrol in a protection forest in Nghe An, central Vietnam in October 2024, a male mainland serow was found caught in a cable snare on its front leg, and more than 50 large traps were removed in the same area.

WildAct said it is working with Chu Yang Sin National Park to continue forest patrols, remove traps and monitor wildlife using camera traps, while supporting sustainable livelihoods for local communities and raising awareness of wildlife protection, to help safeguard 60,000 hectares of forest in the Central Highlands, home to many wildlife species, including the rare mainland serow.

Camera traps reveal rare animal species in Nghe An primeval forest

VOV.VN - Numerous endangered and rare animal species have been discovered in a primeval forest along the Vietnam - Laos border area in Tuong Duong district of the central province of Nghe An through the use of camera traps.