Scientists discover rare new animal in remote Cambodian mountains: ‘It’s incredibly exciting’
Cameras placed in Virachey National Park have discovered a rare type of animal known as a muntjac.
After a comprehensive survey of the Virachey National Park in Cambodia, a total of nine new species have been discovered.
As well as the new species, other animals not known to be living there, like the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac, only registered by science for the first time in 1994, was also captured using hidden cameras.
A new species of glass lizard, a gecko and two bat species were also found for the first time in the study carried out across the dense forest region, with scientists betting on even more to be found in future expeditions.
This year, we set up a total of 66 cameras throughout Cambodia's Virachey National Park. The aim of this camera-trap survey was to help us better understand the species distribution throughout this area.
— Fauna & Flora (@FaunaFloraInt) September 26, 2023
What did our camera traps discover? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5Ki7QKsHHF
'The most exciting find was the large-antlered muntjac'
On top of the novel animal discoveries, the survey also confirmed that the various threatened species also call the park home, namely the red-shanked douc langur, Sunda pangolin, clouded leopard, dhole and sun bear. The region is also sustains Indigenous communities who, according to DiscoverWildlife, “have relied on its resources for generations.”
And it was not only fauna that made a surprise appearance: an edible mushroom, an orchid, an arum and a ginger species were all found living in the mountain range that spans over 3 million square kilometres in the north-eastern part of the country, as well as 8 rare tree species.
“Discovering nine species that were not previously recorded in the country is incredibly exciting,” said Pablo Sinovas, the Country Director for Fauna & Flora’s Cambodia Programme.
“It reaffirms just how special this landscape is and how much there is still to uncover and protect. For me, the most exciting find was the large-antlered muntjac, one of the rarest and most threatened deer species. The fact that the camera trap photographing this species was in the most remote, hardest-to-reach corner of the national park made the huge logistical and physical effort to get there absolutely worth it.”
Red muntjac, Virachey National Park, Cambodia, 2014 pic.twitter.com/ddrAgplgTd
— HabitatID (@HabitatID1) April 2, 2014
The future of the park has had its case strengthened thanks to the huge number of discoveries, with Sinovas clear in his message to the government: “We’re working with the Ministry of Environment and local communities to translate the data into action, to identify and implement the best possible outcomes for the park’s biodiversity and for the people who depend on it. By knowing what’s at stake, we’re better equipped to highlight the park’s values and to define suitable management options that will secure the park’s future.”
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