New Snake, Butterfly and Orchids Found in Vietnam

New Snake, Butterfly and Orchids Found in Vietnam



2007 September -   Scientists with the World 
Wildlife Fund have discovered 11 animal and plant species new to science 
in a remote forested area in central Vietnam. 
Within the ancient tropical forests of a region known as Vietnam’s Green 
Corridor, scientists found a snake, five orchids, and two butterflies as 
well as three other plants new to science and exclusive to the Annamites 
Mountain Range.

Ten other plant species, including four orchids, are still under 
examination but also appear to be new species. 
"Discoveries of so many new species are rare and occur only in very 
special places like the Green Corridor," said Dr. Chris Dickinson, WWF’s 
chief conservation scientist in the Green Corridor. "Several large mammal 
species were discovered in the 1990s in the same forests so these latest 
discoveries may be just the tip of the iceberg." 
WWF wildlife experts warn that all of these species are at risk from 
illegal logging, hunting, unsustainable extraction of natural resources 
and conflicting development interests. 
Yet, local authorities, especially the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Forest 
Protection Department, have committed to conserve and sustainably manage 
these precious and unique forests. 
"The area is extremely important for conservation and the province wants 
to protect the forests and their environmental services, as well as 
contribute to sustainable development," said Hoang Ngoc Khanh, who is 
director of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Forest Protection Department. 
The Green Corridor is the area between Bach Ma National Park and Phong 
Dien Nature Reserve in central Vietnam. 
The rainforests of the Central Annamites are thought to have existed as 
continuous undisturbed forest cover for thousands of years, and, as a 
result, offer unique habitats for many species, said WWF. 

The new snake species, called the white-lipped keelback, Amphiesma 
leucomystax,prefers living by streams where it catches frogs and other 
small animals. With a yellow-white stripe sweeping along its head and red 
dots covering its body, the white-lipped keelback can reach 31 inches. 
The two new butterfly species are among eight discovered in the province 
since 1996. One is a skipper - a butterfly with quick, darting flight 
habits - from the genus Zela, and the other is a new genus in the 
subfamily of Satyrinae. 
Three of the new orchid species are entirely leafless, a rarity even among 
orchids. Containing none of the chlorophyll or green pigment commonly 
found in plants, these orchids live on decaying matter like many fungal 
species. 
The other new plants include an aspidistra which produces a nearly black 
flower and a newly-discovered species of arum with beautiful yellow 
flowers. Arum plants have funnel-shaped leaves surrounding the flowers. 
Stretching from the mountainous forests of the Annamites to one of the 
last remaining lowland wet evergreen forests, Vietnam's Green Corridor 
supports threatened species and includes some of the longest remaining 
stretches of lowland river with intact forest habitat feeding into the 
Perfume River.

The area is inhabited by one of the world’s most endangered primates, 
white-cheeked crested gibbons. 
Recent surveys found 15 reptiles and amphibians and six bird species among 
the threatened species living there. 
The area is considered the best location in Vietnam to save the saola - a 
unique type of wild cattle just discovered by scientists in 1992. 
The forests of the Annamites are important water catchments, supplying 
water for thousands of people who depend on the region’s rivers. Local 
ethnic minority groups earn more than half of their income from the 
non-timber resources of these same forests. 
WWF says the new discoveries underline the importance of conservation in 
threatened tropical forests. 
Established in June 2004, the Green Corridor project is a four year 
project implemented by the WWF Vietnam program and Forest Protection 
Department of Thua Thien Hue province. 
It is supported by the World Bank - Global Environmental Facility, with 
co-funding from the Dutch Development Organization, the People’s Committee 
of Thua Thien Hue Province, and WWF. The aim of the project is to 
strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders and to conserve the 
landscape of the Green Corridor area. 

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