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| Nguyen Duy Luong, of FFI, with the animal |
Fauna & Flora International (FFI) found a rare species of rat in Quang Binh Province, which was believed to have been extinct 11 million years ago.
Scientists discovered the animals amid the other rats which were trapped by the Ruc ethnic group, in On Village, Minh Hoa District. They were caught within Ke Bang National Park.
The animal looks like a cross between a rat, a squirrel and a civet. To locals it is known as \'Ninh Cung\'.
After carrying out tests, the conclusion was come to that the species was actually the Laoation Rock Rat, or Laonastes Aenigmamus.
Before 2005 the species was believed to have been extinct. Based on fossils, scientists date it back to 11 million years ago.
The first one found, in 2005, but the scientific community into an uproar. This is the second specimen found since then.
This discovery may help the parks chances for receiving recognition as a world heritage site from UNESCO for it\'s biodiversity.