For greater than 11 years now, saola researchers have now not recorded any new pictures of the “Asian unicorn”. So why is it lurking within the Truong Son forests or has it disappeared?
For greater than 11 years now, saola researchers have now not recorded any new pictures of this “Asian unicorn”. So why is it lurking within the Central Truong Son forests or has it disappeared from right here?…
The undertaking “Rescuing Sao L. a. from the threshold of extinction” carried out by means of the World Group for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam), has arranged the seek for lines of Sao L. a. in puts believed to be maximum possible in 6 central provinces in 18 months (2023-2024)… Reporter Dan tri had a dialogue with Mr. Do Thanh Hao, Challenge Coordinator, surrounding the undertaking’s seek effects and the lifestyles or non-existence of saola.
Sir, if in comparison to the time when the remaining Sao L. a. picture was once taken – in 2013 in Quang Nam – the hunt scale of the undertaking “Rescuing Sao L. a. from the threshold of extinction” and different tasks lately is most definitely It is definitely larger and the hunt equipment are extra fashionable, however why have not we recorded any new pictures of saola?
– In 2013, when digital camera traps recorded pictures of saola, in reality all over that length the digital camera traps weren’t set for the principle goal of discovering saola. However thankfully, the digital camera entice then recorded pictures of saola and it was once a surprising discovery within the conservation international.
With the hot undertaking “Rescuing saola from the threshold of extinction”, now we have introduced a seek for the objective species saola in a big space of 6 central provinces, from Nghe An to Quang Nam, with quite a lot of The collection of digital camera traps put in within the box was once 2,546 occasions and 1,178 water and circulation water samples had been gathered.
Alternatively, the collection of 2,546 digital camera traps handiest covers part of the concern spaces, now not together with all possible saola spaces allotted in those provinces.
Particularly, for a concern space, we can make a choice essentially the most precedence space inside of about 4 hectares for a survey plot. In that 4ha survey plot, there shall be 16-20 digital camera traps put in, amassing 8 eDNA samples (4 extract samples and four spring water samples) and in a basin there are 10 such survey plots.
There are a complete of 80 eDNA samples and 160-200 digital camera traps according to catchment. This quantity isn’t a lot, the survey space isn’t huge, however it’s WWF – Vietnam’s effort in looking for saola. Sadly, we weren’t ready to seize new pictures of this mammal via digital camera traps.
Discovering lines of saola appears to be tougher than within the length 2010-2013 and is it imaginable that the collection of saola has lowered sharply or is there a foul state of affairs concerning the lifestyles of this animal, sir?
– Actually, as I discussed, the world we surveyed handiest covers a small portion of the highest-ranked precedence spaces. Which means that there are nonetheless many spaces that want additional analysis.
Recording and finding in all probability essentially the most mysterious mammal of the 20 th century just like the saola now not handiest calls for perseverance and prime experience, however once in a while additionally will depend on the component of success. Due to this fact, now not all write makes an attempt will straight away yield the specified effects…
To substantiate whether or not the collection of saola is lowering or now not, there must be transparent and powerful information and proof from steady analysis surveys, as a substitute of simply depending at the problem of detecting them. .
At the moment, if any person mentioned that there was once no hope for the lifestyles of saola within the Central Truong Son forests, how would you reply?
– The lifestyles of saola and different wild animals is dependent a great deal on our movements and efforts. The excellent news is that over the last a few years, WWF – Vietnam and native companions, conservation spaces and nationwide parks have carried out many particular measures to reduce threats and give protection to the residing atmosphere of flora and fauna. wild animals, together with saola.
Alternatively, hope is primarily based now not handiest on present effects but additionally on long-term movements. Efforts reminiscent of controlling unlawful looking, making improvements to habitat, and lengthening public consciousness are progressively developing sure adjustments.
Even if saola has now not been recorded in fresh surveys, this doesn’t imply that hope is misplaced. As a substitute, we wish to be extra steadfast, specializing in more practical answers to revive ecosystems and preserve biodiversity, as a result of each motion these days is the root for restoration someday. hybrid.
These days, we should not have any new pictures of saola, and eDNA samples together with milk samples and water samples had been despatched to Germany to research and decide the presence of saola. Are you able to replace the research result of those eDNA samples?
– The method of examining environmental DNA samples is a posh procedure, requiring a large number of time and prime accuracy. Prior to now, some samples have had initial research effects. Alternatively, complete effects for all samples are nonetheless being finalized.
This procedure contains many complicated steps from pattern processing, DNA sequencing, to evaluating information with genetic databases to appropriately determine species. We can replace data once now we have complete effects from the laboratory in Germany.
What are the result of some samples which were analyzed, sir?
– Initial research effects from some eDNA samples have recorded the presence of many uncommon flora and fauna species reminiscent of chamois, Truong Son muntjac, bears… Alternatively, the objective species saola has now not been recorded. any of the samples analyzed thus far. We can proceed to replace data as now we have extra research effects from different samples.
Other folks have talked so much about saola having the ability to go back and forth from side to side between Vietnam and Laos. So are there any tasks in Laos carried out in parallel with the WWF – Vietnam undertaking and are the ends up in your nation sure, sir?
– Vietnam and Laos have a joint operating staff referred to as Sao L. a. Operating Workforce, which incorporates a community of participants actively dedicated to keeping saola. This can be a cross-border collaborative effort to offer protection to this extraordinarily uncommon animal in its herbal habitat.
In Laos, there also are seek actions for saola, however the scale isn’t huge and thus far no new particular proof of the presence of this species has been recorded. Alternatively, those actions are nonetheless essential in protective and keeping up the saola’s herbal habitat, contributing to facilitating long term analysis and conservation.
WWF and companions in each nations are operating to increase the scope of study, give a boost to habitat control, and beef up saola tracking to seek out more practical conservation answers. .
You assert saola is an animal maximum mysterious within the twentieth century, so what about within the twenty first century?
– Prior to now, clinical data and proof about saola continues to be very restricted, from habitat, habits, conduct to species populations. This thriller comes now not handiest from the truth that saola are extraordinarily uncommon, but additionally from the truth that they are living in far off and hard to succeed in mountainous spaces.
Even within the twenty first century, saola continues to be thought to be one of the mysterious animals to the clinical group. This poses many demanding situations but additionally creates nice motivation for scientists, conservation organizations and the group to proceed researching and protective this species, to keep away from the danger of them disappearing sooner than we will be able to perceive them. know extra about them.
Returning to the undertaking “Rescuing saola from the threshold of extinction”, when imposing, have you ever set digital camera traps and picked up eDNA samples in puts thought to be to have essentially the most possible?
– This is without doubt one of the greatest tasks in WWF – Vietnam’s efforts to go looking and uncover saola over a few years.
The primary part of the undertaking is to survey the indigenous ecological wisdom of native folks in six central provinces of Vietnam. This can be a totally new means. Individuals who at once are living and feature a long-standing attachment to these spaces supply data and from there now we have known 55 precedence spaces that also have the potential for saola survival.
The undertaking is carried out at once at 16 places which might be assessed as having the perfect possible the place saola can nonetheless be provide in keeping with survey effects. Along with the collection of digital camera traps as discussed, we additionally gathered 1,178 eDNA samples, together with milk samples and spring water samples.
The process of environment digital camera traps isn’t repeated, however digital camera traps are positioned within the wooded area for a minimal length of two months.
Is environment digital camera traps and amassing eDNA samples assured to succeed in saola maximum successfully, sir?
– We coordinate with companions to increase a normal Sao L. a. survey procedure.
Specifically, not like the process of striking digital camera traps in a grid 500m or 1km aside, we focal point on striking digital camera traps in spaces of the basin with the perfect precedence and the densest placement density, to verify inside of As a result of small spaces have the perfect precedence, the potential for encountering saola is the best.
The process of amassing squeezed samples and spring water samples could also be an identical. Specifically, we acquire circulation water samples within the downstream and upstream spaces to be sure that in case the saola passes in the course of the circulation, the eDNA pattern saved within the water is huge sufficient to have the best probability and likelihood of detecting the saola. .
The 2 strategies supplement each and every different. In case the digital camera entice can’t document, the eDNA pattern gathered in that space will complement the digital camera entice effects.
Are you able to give an explanation for about pattern assortment and research?
– If there’s a saola within the space and a undeniable fish sucks the blood of the saola, this blood will exist within the frame of the snake, and the eDNA can stay for a number of months. If the extracted samples document the eDNA of saola in keeping with the research procedure within the analysis laboratory, it’ll be decided that saola is found in that space.
The quest procedure as you analyzed is standardized, so if saola nonetheless exists within the forests of Central Truong Son however now we have now not recorded it but, what risk is that?
– Infrequently looking and finding wild animals calls for success and predestination.
However success additionally must be in keeping with clinical wisdom and obviously WWF – Vietnam has labored with companions to increase the optimum approach to seek for saola.
In fact, in a brief time frame, with such assets, it isn’t imaginable to substantiate that all of the surveyed basins should not have saola.
Thanks for the alternate!
19/12/2024 – 05:18
Theo dantri.com.vn
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