Animals of Ba Vi National Park - Vietnam

 

Ba Vi National Park is a national park located 48 km  west of Hanoi, Vietnam. The park area  is 7,377 ha, and is located in the Ba Vì mountain range. The park has rich and diverse tropical and subtropical species of flora and fauna. The park is home for more than 800 rare and exotic plants, 280 of which have medicinal applications. It also boasts 44 species of mammal, 15 species of reptile, 9 species of amphibian and more than 100 bird species. This roughly explains why Ba Vi National Park is called “Capital Hanoi’s lung” by most Hanoians.

Ba Vi National Park is located in Ba Vi district of Hanoi and 2 districts of Hoa Binh Province, namely Luong Son and Ky Son. The Park is situated on a mountain range running north-east and south-west with its peak at Vua Peak of 1,296 m and Tan Vien Peak of 1,226 m and Ngoc Hoa Peak of 1,120

To commemorate the importance of Ba Vi National park, Vietnam Post issued the stamp set features animals of this park, Chinese Pangolin, Sumatran Serow, Red-flying squirrel, Asian Black Bear in year 2003

Chinese Pangolin

The Chinese pangolin is a rather secretive animal. They are considered nocturnal creatures and are extremely shy. They move very slowly and are known for their non-aggressive behavior. Their hard scales work as a protection cover from predators and when they feel endangered, they curl themselves in a ball. Chinese pangolins are mainly terrestrial animals and are observed in forests that are about 20 feet high from the ground.

They mainly eat insects as termites and ants. Their sharp claws help them in digging up the ants and termite mounds and with the help of their sticky, long tongue (25 cm), they can draw their prey into their mouth.

In Vietnam and Hong Kong, Chinese pangolins are considered a delicacy and they are hunted on a large scale only for this purpose. Now, Chinese pangolins are being protected in the forests where they are generally found.

Red-flying squirrel

The Red-flying squirrel has a membrane of skin between its legs, which is used to glide between trees. It is characterized by its dark red coloring and large eyes. , This species is larger  than  other species of squirrels, being on average 422 mm long. Entire body dark reddish except for black on nose, chin, eye-ring, behind the ears, feet and tail tip.The Red Giant Flying Squirrel is nocturnal and does not hibernate, but migrates to areas with more food.In the wild, it feeds primarily on conifer cones, leaves and branches, and, when in season, fruits and nuts, and occasionally insects. It is able to glide for long distances.

Asiatic Black bear

The Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus)  is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Honshū and Shikoku islands of Japan. It is classed by the IUCN as a vulnerable species, mostly due to deforestation and active hunting for its body parts.

Asian black bears are diurnal, though they become nocturnal near human habitations. They may live in family groups consisting of two adults and two successive litters of young. They will walk in a procession of largest to smallest. They are good climbers of rocks and trees, and will climb to feed, rest, sun, elude enemies and hibernate. Some older bears may become too heavy to climb.

Asian black bears are omnivorous, and will feed on insects, beetle larvae, invertebrates, termites, grubs, carrion, bees, eggs, garbage, mushrooms, grasses, fruits, nuts, seeds, honey, herbs, acorns, cherries, dogwood, oak nuts and grain.

Serow or capricornis Sumatraensis

The Sumatran Serow  or Capricornis sumatraensis,  is a species of goat-antelope native to mountain forests in the Thai-Malay Peninsula and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The Sumatran Serow is threatened due to habitat loss and hunting, leading to it being evaluated as vulnerable by the IUCN.