For the first time, images of the clouded leopard, one of Vietnam's rarest animals, have been recorded in its natural habitat at the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve (Nghe An province).
Camera traps have been used to spot a clouded leopard for the first time in the Pù Hoạt nature reserve. Photo: Provided by the subject .
On December 18th, Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh, Director of the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve Management Board ( Nghe An province), announced that based on the results of surveys using camera trap technology, images of the clouded leopard (Catopuma temminckii) have been recorded for the first time in the natural forest of the reserve.
This is an exceptionally rare species with very high conservation value and is a priority for protection.
According to the Vietnamese Red Book, the clouded leopard is classified as CR (Critically Endangered), a group of species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild and requiring urgent conservation measures to avoid permanent disappearance.
Scientific data shows that despite its wide distribution range, the clouded leopard is an extremely rare species. Its population size is estimated to have declined by more than 80% in the last 30 years, primarily due to habitat loss and overhunting.
In Vietnam, the estimated population size is under 250 individuals, with the number of adult individuals in each subpopulation being less than 50.
Gaur, large spotted civet, pangolin, and large muntjac were recorded in the largest camera trap in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Photo: WWF-Vietnam.
Currently, in Northern Vietnam, the clouded leopard has only been recorded in a few localities (before mergers) such as: Yen Bai , Lao Cai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Nam. In Nghe An province, this species was recorded in Pu Hoat, according to a 2008 study.
The clouded leopard is also listed in Appendix I of the CITES Convention and is subject to strict protection regulations under Government Decrees 64/2019/ND-CP and 84/2021/ND-CP. Scientists assess the risk of this species being threatened with extinction in the wild as currently very high.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh, although the deployment time has not been long and the number of camera traps is still limited, capturing images of clouded leopards in the natural forest of Pu Hoat is of particular importance to biodiversity conservation.
"We expect to record even more rare animal species in the future," Mr. Sinh said, adding that this serves as a basis for affirming the biodiversity value of the reserve and developing effective conservation strategies for the future.
The Pù Hoạt Nature Reserve Management Board, in coordination with other units, released a reticulated python back into its natural environment in 2024. Photo: Provided by the subject.
Prior to this, in 2025, the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve Management Board used camera traps combined with advanced statistical models to research, investigate, monitor, and assess the status of wildlife species within the reserve.
The program was implemented with 120 camera traps, installed at 60 points systematically distributed across the characteristic habitats of Pu Hoat.
After more than two months of implementation, the research team has obtained many positive results, recording natural images of many rare animal species, reflecting the biodiversity of the fauna.