Camera traps have recorded images of the Asian golden cat for the first time in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve (Photo: Nguyen Sinh)
Nguyen Van Sinh, director of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, said the discovery followed more than two months of camera-trap surveys combined with statistical models used to study, monitor and assess wildlife in the area.
A total of 120 camera traps were installed at 60 sites across key habitats, recording several rare species, he said.
“The most significant result is the first-ever record of the Asian golden cat in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve. This is an extremely rare species with very high conservation value and is under strict protection,” Sinh said.
He added that the images provide solid scientific evidence confirming the species’ presence and distribution in the reserve, reinforcing existing research and highlighting the area’s biodiversity importance.
According to Vietnam’s Red Data Book, the Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), first described in 1827, is listed as critically endangered and faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Although widely distributed, the species is rarely seen, with its population estimated to have declined by more than 80 per cent over the past 30 years due to habitat loss and overhunting.
Scientific records show the Asian golden cat has previously been documented in several mountainous localities across Vietnam, including Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Nam.
