Vietnam has a diverse landscape ranging from jungles to forests to swamps. It was once heavily forested but warfare and deforestation have reduced forest coverage in some areas. However, Vietnam remains one of the most biodiverse places in the world, with over 10,000 plant species, some yet undiscovered. Several rare and endangered species call Vietnam home, including the elusive saola antelope and Cat Ba langur monkey which live in limestone forests. The largest turtle in Asia, the Cantor's giant softshell turtle, also inhabits Vietnam's wetlands and rivers, spending most of its time buried and only surfacing to breathe.

1. VIETNAM
Hanoi, Vietnam
Submitted by:
Mary Jay Cajes
BEEd General Education
IV-A

3. Vietnam is known for their beautiful sceneries, it is
very diverse and consists of jungles, forests, swamps and
waterways which are homes to thousands of wildlife species
and about 10,000 unknown plant species. The country was
once totally covered with forests but over the years due to the
war and deforestation and anthropological pressures some
areas have lost their biodiversity value.

4. Vietnamwas once covered with
forest but over the years due to the war
and deforestation some area's have lost
their biodiversity value, however it is
considered the fifth biodiversity hot spot
in the world. Many area's in Vietnam still
lie undiscovered and not explored yet.
There is an estimated 12,000 flora
species which about 9,628 species have
been categorized under 291 families.

5. Vietnamis one of the Indochinese Peninsular countries in Southeast
Asia. The country is the 14th most populous country in the world, and
borders China, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Vietnam location is between
latitude 8 and 24 degrees North and longitude 102 and 110 degrees east.
The country covers an area of 331,210 square kilometers with a coastline of
3,444 kilometers long. It is characterized by Highlands on the northern part.
The highest elevation is 3143 meters above the sea level. Vietnam has two
world national heritage Ha Long Baya and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
The country possesses unique biodiversity and is ranked 16th in the world in
biodiversity. The country is divided into six ecological regions, including
those looked at below.

7. 5 ANIMALS FOUND IN
VIETNAM

8. SAOLA
Often called the Asian unicorn, little is known about the
enigmatic saola in the two decades since its discovery. None
exist in captivity and this rarely-seen mammal is already
critically endangered. Scientists have categorically documented
saola in the wild on only four occasions to date.

9. Saola is a recently discovered species of large mammals. Scientific
community heard about saola for the first time in 1992. This unique-looking
animal lives only in the forests on the border of north-central Vietnam and Laos.
Saola is also known as Asian unicorn because it is rarely seen in the nature and
people sometimes think of saola like it is an imagined creature. Saola prefers life
in dense forests that have good supply of running water (near the riverbanks).
Although not much is known about saola, it is listed as critically endangered
species due to accelerated habitat loss and hunt. Horns of saola are collected as
a trophy while other parts of its body serve as ingredients in folk medicine.

10. Size:
Head and body length: 1,500 – 2,000 mm
Weight: 80-100 kg
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae

11. How do SAOLA survive?
The saola appears to depend on dense wet, evergreen
forest. Individuals appear to use all forest levels, including
lowland secondary forest along rivers. They reportedly keep
to higher slopes in summer and descend to lower levels in
winter when the upper streams are dry. The saola is a mid-
altitude species, at least in the present day, with most
records coming from between 400 and 1,000 m. Formerly, it
may have occurred (and even preferred) wet forest at low
elevation (below 400 m), but in Vietnam such areas are now
densely settled by people and highly degraded and
fragmented.

12. Saola Behaviour and Lifestyle
The Saola is thought to be a diurnal animal
meaning that they are most active during the day-
light hours, possibly resting out of sight to protect
themselves from predators under the cover of
night. They are thought to lead a generally solitary
lifestyle, although reports of small groups of Saola
are not unknown. These most commonly contain
either two or three individuals, but claims from
villagers suggest that they can congregate in herds
of up to seven members.
© William Robichaud

13. Saola Reproduction and Life Cycles
The Saola breeding season appears to coincide
with the start of the rainy season which is around
February to March in Vietnam and between April
and June in neighbouring Laos. Males are thought
to find a female that often co-inhabits a small part
of the male's range. After mating, females are
thought to give birth to a single calf (much in the
same way as other Bovine species) after a
gestation period that is thought to last for
between 7 and 8 months.
© William Robichaud

14. Cat The Ba Langur
An Extraordinarily Beautiful Primate

15. Cat Ba langurs are one of several langur species that are
closely associated with limestone areas meaning their habitat consists chiefly
of limestone covered Karst forest. They regularly sleep in caves throughout the
year to guard against unfavourable weather conditions. A group of langurs may
use up to twelve different caves as resting sites. They generally spend only one
or two nights in the same cave before moving on to other feeding and resting
areas. The colouration of male and female langurs is nearly identical the only
difference being a white pubic patch on the female. Infants are a flamboyant
orange and only begin developing their adult colouration at about four months
of age.

16. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Trachypithecus
Also known as white-rumped black langur.
Synonyms Trachypithecus francoisi delacouri.
Size
Male head-to-body length: 57 – 62 cm (2)
Female head-to-body length: 57 – 59 cm (2)
Mail tail length: 82 - 88 cm (2)
Female tail length: 84 – 86 cm (2)
Male weight: 7.5 – 10.5 kg (2)
Female weight: 6.2 – 9.2 kg (2)

17. How do Cat Ba langurs survive?
Langur is a type of monkey. There are 15 different subspecies
of langurs that can be found in India, Sri Lanka, Burma,
Pakistan and Bangladesh. Langurs can survive in different
types of ecosystems: warm and humid swamps, dry torn
scrubs, deserts, lowland and mountain forests and even urban
areas. Some subspecies of langur are endangered due to
habitat loss, chemical pollution and hunting.

18. Langur conservation
Four areas where Delacour’s langurs are protected
include: Cuc Phuong National Park, Pu Luong Nature
Reserve, Hoa Lu Cultural and Historical Site, and the
recently-established Van Long Nature Reserve, which
is believed to contain the largest remaining
population of around 70 individuals. Unfortunately,
protected areas often suffer more from poaching
than unprotected areas because their dense
population of wildlife is seen as more profitable. Thus,
conservation groups are working to increase the level
of protection and law enforcement within these
protected areas.

19. Langur habitat
This arboreal langur lives in
tropical forests around
limestone cliffs (known as
karst forest). While
occupying trees during the
day, Delacour’s langur will
usually come down to the
ground at night to sleep in
the caves of limestone
cliffs.

20. Interesting Langur Facts:
Langurs can reach 17 to 31 inches in height and 11
to 40 pounds in weight. Their tail can be up to 42
inches long. Males are larger than females.
Body of the langur is covered with long fur that can
be silver, grey, brown, golden, red or black. Color
of the fur provides a camouflage and it depends on
their environment.
Langurs are also known as "leaf-eating monkeys"
because they feed mostly on the leaves. Other than
leaves, they also eat fruit, shoots, roots, seeds,
flowers, grass.
Since langur diet consists of plants only, their
intestines are home to different types of bacteria
that help in digestion of plant material.
Plant diet does not provide a lot of energy which is
the reason why langurs are not as active as other
monkeys.

21. Cantor's Giant Softshell Turtle
Asian giant softshell turtle

22. Cantor's Giant Softshell Turtle has a broad head, with small eyes
near the tip of the snout. Individuals can reach a maximum length of about 2
meters (6 feet). Adults have a smooth and olive colored carapace, while juveniles
may have dark-spotted carapaces and heads, with yellow around the carapace.
Contrary to most turtles, the Cantor’s giant softshell turtle has no exterior shell,
although the ribs do form a protective plating over its back, covered by rubbery
skin. Individuals may have sharp scales on the underside of the forelimbs
It should be mentioned that the species is not well studied and certain data
indicate that it may actually be composed of several taxa.

23. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Testudines
Family: Trionychidae
Genus: Pelochelys
Species: Pelochelys cantorii
Conservation Status: Endangered
Common Name(s): Cantor's giant softshell turtle, Asian
giant softshell turtle

24. How do Cantor's Giant Softshell Turtle survive?
Behavior
Cantor's giant softshell turtles spend 95 % of their lives
stayed buried and motionless, with only their eyes and
mouth protruding from the ground level. They surface
twice a day to take a breath.
Diet
They are carnivorous animals mainly feeding on:
•Crustaceans
•Fish
•Mollusks
Reproduction
After mating, females
lay 20 to 28 eggs
from February to
March on riverbanks.
These eggs have a
diameter of 3 to 3.5
cm (1.2 to 1.4 in.).

25. When they reproduce, they tend to lay about 20-28 eggs during the
early months. These turtles grow to about 6 feet (2 meters) long, and
spend 95 percent of their lives buried under dirt and motionless, with
only its mouth and eyes exposed. An ambush predator, these turtles
survive by feeding on crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. All that lying
around motionless in the mud and sand makes them hard to find. But
since the new populations turtles have been found conservation efforts
have increased in an attempt to save the species from extinction.
A young cantor's giant softshell turtle

26. A young cantor's giant softshell turtle
Interesting Facts
- According to some reports, their bite is faster than the bite of a
Cobra.

27. Jungle Cat

28. Jungle Cat remains probably the most common cat species in South Asia (India,
Nepal, Bangladesh), where the majority of the global population occurs and despite likely
extensive declines in mainland Southeast Asia, where the species is now extremely scarce
and largely restricted to remote lowland deciduous dipterocarp forest (Duckworth et al.
2005, Gray et al. 2014), it is unlikely that globally averaged declines are sufficient to merit
Near Threatened status. Population declines and range contraction are also of concern
elsewhere in the species’ range particularly in Egypt (Glas 2013), southwest Asia (Abu-
Baker et al. 2003), the Caucasus (IUCN 2007), central Asia (Habibi 2004) and parts of Turkey
(Ogurlu et al. 2010). However, very little new information has been obtained from these
regions since the previous assessment. Nevertheless, ongoing collation of records,
particularly from South Asia, is needed and evidence of declines, particularly outside
protected areas may merit reassessment.

29. The majority of the suitable Indian habitat is classified as ‘wasteland’ which legally eases
conversion into any other form of use particularly industrialisation and urbanization – the
latter has been identified as a particular threat in India given the pace of urbanisation of
agricultural and unprotected forest areas (S. Mukherjee in litt. 2014, D. Jathana in litt.
2014). Hybridisation with domestic cats is also a potential, although unproven, threat.
There remains uncertainty as to how the species will respond to habitat loss, and
potential interactions with hunting and persecution. Therefore, further research is
recommended, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, in order to gather additional data
for a more thorough future assessment of the species' likely trends in response to habitat
loss. Generally, more information on the species' ecology and status is needed across its
range.

30. Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae
Scientific Name: Felis chaus
Common Name(s):
English – Jungle Cat, Swamp Cat, Reed Cat
French – Chat de jungle, Chat des Marais
Spanish – Gato de la Jungla, Gato de los Pantanos

31. How do Jungle Cat survive?
The Jungle Cat, despite its name, is not strongly associated with the classic
rainforest "jungle" habitat, but rather with wetlands - habitats with water and
dense vegetative cover, especially reed swamps, marsh, and littoral and
riparian environments - scrubland, and deciduous dipterocarp forest (Gray et
al. 2014). Water and dense ground cover can be found in a variety of habitats,
ranging from desert (where it is found near oases or along riverbeds) to
grassland, shrubby woodland and dry deciduous forest, as well as cleared
areas in moist forest (Nowell and Jackson 1996).

32. Jungle Cats feed mainly on prey that weighs less than one
kilogram. Small mammals, principally rodents, are the prey
most frequently found in feces and stomach contents (Adhya
2014, Majumder et al. 2011). A study in India's Sariska reserve
estimated that Jungle Cats catch and eat three to five rodent
per day (Mukherjee et al. 2004). Birds rank second in
importance, but in southern Russia waterfowl are the
mainstay of Jungle Cat diet in the winter. With overwintering
populations of waterfowl congretating in large numbers on
unfrozen rivers and marshes, the Jungle Cat hunts among
reed beds and along edges of wetlands, searching for injured
or weakened birds

33. Bar-bellied pitta

34. The Bar-bellied Pitta (Pitta elliotii) is a
species of bird in the Pittidae family. It is
found in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and
Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or
tropical moist lowland forests.

35. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pittidae
Genus: Hydrornis
Species: Hydrornis elliotii
Synonyms: Pitta elliotii

36. Bar-bellied Pitta, Grey-faced Tit-Babbler, Green Imperial
Pigeon and Mountain Hawk-Eagle. Lunch then transfer to the
airport for flight to Hanoi. O/N in Hanoi. Day 11 The
sightseeing tour begins with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex,
containing the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi
Minh, the Presidential Palace , Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts
and the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the
foundation of city.

37. This species has a severely
restricted range in Thailand
occurring only in the extreme
southeast and east of the country
in forest below 400 meters. With
the destruction of almost all
forest below this altitude there
are only a very few patches of
habitat left close to the
Cambodian border.

38. 5 PLANTS FOUND IN
VIETNAM

39. Halong Fam Palm
Livistona

40. HalongFamPalmLivistona
is a genus of palms(family Arecaceae), native to southern
and southeastern Asia, Australasia, and the Horn of
Africa.They are fan palms, the leaves with an armed petiole
terminating in a rounded, costapalmate fan of numerous
leaflets.

41. HalongFamPalmLivistona
is closely related to the genus
Saribus, and for a time Saribus
was included in Livistona.
Recent studies, however, have
advocated separating the two
groups.

42. H a l o n g F a m P a l m L i v i s t o n a
species are used as food plants by
the larvae of some Lepidoptera
species including Batrachedra
arenosella (recorded on L.
subglobosa) and Paysandisia archon.

43. Rafflesia

44. Rafflesiais a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It contains
15-19 species, all found in Southeastern Asia. They have no leaves
and hardly any stem, just a huge, leathery, speckled five-petalled
flower.
The flowers have a penetrating, repulsive smell like rotting meat
and many of its local names translate as ‘corpse flower’. The
Rafflesia plant is itself not visible until the reproduction stage when
flowers first bud through the woody vine and then open into the
magnificent spectacle that is world-renowned today.

45. The largest
flower on Earth
attracts flies and
other insects
with the enticing
aroma of rotting
flesh.
Themeatflower
The meat flower
Themeatflower

46. The largest individual flower on earth. The
flower can have a diameter of up to 106
cm. and can weigh up to 10 kg. Although
technically a member of the plant
kingdom, Rafflesia challenges traditional
definitions of what a plant is because it
lacks chlorophyll and is therefore incapable
of photosynthesis.

47. Most species are highly localised and are
therefore vulnerable to extinction because of
habitat disturbance and host cutting from
activities such as land clearing, logging, and
ethnobotanical collecting.

48. Pitcher Plant

49. Pitcher Plant is a rare species that has been re-discovered in a national
park in the southern Vietnamese province of Tay Ninh after disappearing more
than a century ago from the wild and cultivation.
This plant has a very unique structure. The pitcher is actually the leaf modified as
a trap. The part that looks like a leaf is actually the leaf petiole. The pitcher holds
liquid used to drown the insect. The plant actually produces the liquid in the
pitchers. This is impressive considering there is one species that will hold up to
three quarters of a gallon of liquid in it's pitcher. The pitchers of nepenthes vary
in size from 4-5 inches to 12 inches (Nepenthes truncate) to 24 inches
(Nepenthes rajah). It has been recorded that a rat was found in the pitcher of
Nepenthes rajah.

50. Nepenthes are the
pitcher plants of the Old
World Tropics with most
of them native to the
Asian rainforests. These
pitcher plants differ from
the American pitcher
plants in that many of
them are lianas, vines
growing up into trees,
rosettes, or epiphytes
growing in the leafy
debris caught in tree
branches.
The nepenthes are also
unique in that they are
similar to bromeliads
where some animals,
insects and spiders have
learned to survive and live
in the liquid of the
nepenthes. There are
mosquitoes and species of
frogs that lay their eggs in
the liquid of nepenthes
and are not affected by
the digestive enzymes.

51. How do PITCHER PLANT survive?

52. Their jar shaped leaves are what
Pitcher Plants are known for, have very
bright colors that attract prey which
makes it possible to find food without
moving. Also, their leaves feel
pressure whenever an insect of any
prey lands on their leaves. That way,
the Pitcher Plant knows when to
digest the insect.

53. Diet
Pitcher plants have a wide variety of diet. Most
of the them only stick to eating insects, such as
Dark Beetle, Giant Millipede, Vietnamese
walking stick, Giant water plant ants, fruit flies.
However, some like to go out of their comfort
zone by eating mosquitoes and baby or small
frogs. Plants do not move so it is difficult to
capture food. Pitcher Plants bright colors
attract prey and they think their home is the
pitcher plants. The prey makes their way into
the plant and because of the slime, they can’t
get out and the pitcher plant eats it.

54. Interesting Facts
 Sometimes small frogs will hide in pitcher plants, eating flies
that are attracted to the plant.
 Glands exude a sweet juice that is attractive to insects.
 There are 76 different types of Pitcher Plants.
Predators
 Even though some Pitcher Plants eat them, mosquitoes
could harm them after they digest them. Spiders also hide
under the Pitcher Plant itself.
Habitat
 You can find pitcher plants in Eastern North America on
swampy land. However, some can grow in other places as
long as they have the resources they need to survive. Such
as, food, sun and soil.

55. GINSENG

56. Ginsenghas an almost mystical reputation around the world,
and much about it has been overblown, but there is pretty good
evidence that this root is an effective medicinal plant. I’ll try to
present the history and facts, as best I can, about this small plant
with a big reputation.

57. Asian Ginseng was likely discovered in the Manchurian
Mountains (Northern China) over 5,000 years ago.
Most researchers believe that Ginseng was first used as a food.
Many ancient health systems developed the belief that the shape of the
plant identifies which bodily ailment it can heal. The Ginseng root resembles
a miniature human body, so Ginseng was revered as a whole-body cure-all.
Ginseng has traditionally been used for general well-being, improving
understanding, as an aphrodisiac, and as a medicine to prolong life.

58.  Asian Ginseng was likely discovered in the Manchurian Mountains (Northern China) over
5,000 years ago.
 Most researchers believe that Ginseng was first used as a food.
 Many ancient health systems developed the belief that the shape of the plant identifies
which bodily ailment it can heal. The Ginseng root resembles a miniature human body, so
Ginseng was revered as a whole-body cure-all.
 Ginseng has traditionally been used for general well-being, improving understanding, as an
aphrodisiac, and as a medicine to prolong life.
 The scientific name of the genus, Panax, comes from the Greek meaning “all-heal” (the
word panacea has the same origination).
 The name “ginseng” is derived from the Chinese word “rénshēn” (rén = person; shēn = plant
root) due to the root resembling human legs, the torso, and sometimes even a full body.

59.  The root of ginseng is the primary medicinal portion of the plant.
 The leaf of ginseng can be used as well, but is not considered a
primary medicinal.
 Dried ginseng root is the most commonly available form used as a
medicinal.
 Ginseng is considered an adaptogen. This is a term used to
describe a substance that “adapts” to the specific needs of the
body. They are used to promote homeostasis – stabilizing

60. Life Span: There are few references on the life span of Ginseng. Plants are not
considered mature until they are at least 5 years old (some places 10+ years).
There are reports of roots being over 90 years old, although most plants are
harvested at a fraction of this age.

61. Rhododendron

62. Rhododendron is a flowering plant that belongs to the
heath family. There are more than 1000 species of rhododendron
that are native to Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.
Rhododendron grows in cool climate, on slightly acidic, well-drained
soil. It can be found in the mountains, coniferous and temperate
forests and tropical rainforests. Rhododendron is cultivated because
of its beautiful, fragrant flowers and ornamental leaves. At the
moment, there are around 2800 new varieties of rhododendron that
are available worldwide.

63. Kingdom: Plantae
Sub Kingdom: Tracheobionta
Super Division: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Sub Class: Dilleniidae
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron L The name Rhododendron comes from the greek words "rodon"
which means "rose" and "dendron" which means "tree", hence
Rose Tree. Rhododendron flowers are usually produced in
trusses. The family Ericacea, into which the genus
Rhododendron falls, also includes heathers, mountain laurels,
blueberries and cranberries as well as manzanita, trailing
arbutus, madrone, huckleberry, kalmiopsis, sourwood,
blueberries and a number of other genus. Rhododendrons are
referred to as the King of Shrubssince they are regarded by
many as the best flowering evergreen plants for the temperate
landscape.

64.  Most people know rhododendrons as big leathery leafed shrubs with round
clusters of white, pink, red, or purple blooms.
 Rhododendron was discovered by The 16th century Flemish botanist, Charles
l'Ecluse.
 Rhododendron was introduced to Britain in 1656 from the European Alps, and so
the name Alpine Rose for Rhododendron histrum.
 Exploration in America came as a result of a partnership between English Quaker
Peter Collinson and botanist/farmer John Bartram of Pennsylvania. This led to the
importation to England of the American natives, Rhododendron canescens,
Rhododendron nudiflorum, and Rhododendron viscosum in 1734, and
Rhododendron maximum in 1736.
 Rhododendron ferrugineum, another species from the European Alps also known
as the Alpine Rose, came along in 1752.

65. Never plant a rhododendron deeper than it was originally planted. The roots seldom ever
extend more than twelve inches deep. Planting them deeper than twelve inches will
prevent them from getting enough air.
Plant Rhododendrons in spring or fall.
Space plants 2 to 6 feet apart, depending on the expected mature size of the plant.Dig a
hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide.
Rhododendrons need an acidic soil. If your soil is in very poor condition, amend the soil
you've removed from the hole with a small amount of compost.
Carefully remove the plant from the container and set it in the hole.
Fill the hole half full with soil, then water it well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
The chief killer of rhododendrons is wet soil. Rhododendrons need moist well drained soil,
but not a water logged soil. Rhododendrons seem to thrive in Mediterranean climates
where there are long periods with no rain.

66. Rhododendrons are not usually prone to insects or diseases.
They can develop a condition called chlorosis, which is
characterized by yellowing of a leaf between dark green veins.
Chlorosis can be caused by malnutrition caused by alkalinity of
the soil, potassium deficiency, calcium deficiency, iron deficiency
or magnesium deficiency. A combination of acidification with
sulfur and iron supplements such as chelated iron or iron sulfate
will usually treat this problem. Chlorosis can also be caused by
nitrogen toxicity (usually caused by nitrate fertilizers) or other
conditions that damage the roots such as root rot, severe
cutting of the roots, root weevils or root death caused by
extreme amounts of fertilizer.

67. Sources
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/ecological-regions-of-vietnam.html
http://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/rediscovery-of-saola-asian-unicorn-sighted-in-
vietnam-after-15-years
http://www.strangeanimals.info/2010/12/cantors-giant-softshell-turtle.html#ixzz4U8gLwGqd
Citation:
Gray, T.N.E., Timmins, R.J., Jathana, D., Duckworth, J.W., Baral, H. & Mukherjee, S. 2016.Felis
chaus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T8540A50651463.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T8540A50651463.en. Downloaded on 28
December 2016.