× This report deals with diversity research
within the Vietnam project of
the Cologne Zoo on his way towards a
centre for nature conservation. Since
more than five years the Cologne Zoo
engages in a German-Vietnamese cooperation
project concerning biodiversity
research and conservation in the
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in
central Vietnam. This karst forest area
in the Quang Binh province, which
meanwhile is declared by the UNESCO
as world heritage site, comprises
more than 85,000 ha and represents
habitat and refuge of many threatened
and in part still undiscovered species.
My report comprises the current
knowledge about the amphibians and
reptiles of this area. The so-called herpetofauna
appears, due to its limited
tendency to spread, the relatively high
habitat requirements, and the relatively
simple recording (without using traps),
as suitable bioindicator. In addition,
herpetodiversity research is not only
required in Vietnam because being a
hot spot (i. e., endemism centre) of
biodiversity, but also due to the fact,
that we are only able to protect those
species which are known so far. In this
context, the special significance of
newly discovered species as role models
for a nature reserve (i. e., so-called flagship
species) is stressed: As ambassadors
of their relatives they do not only
plead for the conservation status of an
area, but also motivate the local people
to engage in the conservation of their
unique home; finally, newly discovered
species help to be effective as publicity
and to attract support by sponsors, too.
Beside newly discovered mammal species
some recent reptile discoveries
from the National Park’s karst forest
are highlighted: Among them is the
Phong Nha-Ke Bang Bent-toed Gecko
(Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis)
that was named after its type locality, as
well as another, greyish gecko species
(Gekko sp. n.), that will be described as
new species soon. However, the area’s
most spectacular herpetological discoveries
were two horned pitvipers: One
of them (Triceratolepidophis sieversorum)
was originally discovered as
preserved specimen in the rice wine
collection of a local healer and revealed
not only to be a new species but also to
represent a new snake genus; the other
horned pitviper (Protobothrops cornutus)
has already been regarded by some
scientists as being extinct and therefore
could be rediscovered in Vietnam after
more than half a century (which was at
the same time the first record for the
National Park’s herpetofauna). Thus,
both geckonid as well as both horned
pitviper discoveries represent prominent
advocates of the habitat karst forest
in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National
Park, with whom their existence is
closely connected. After these examples,
the remaining members of the herpetofauna
are briefly introduced in words
and pictures: Currently seven families
of frogs (represented by almost 40 species),
four families of turtles (more than
ten species), five lizard families (more
than 30 species) and six families of
snakes (almost 50 species) are known.
Because several problems concerning
determination and taxonomy remain
still unsolved and because new species
are constantly discovered and described,
it is difficult to name concrete species
numbers. However, with respect
to its herpetodiversity, the Phong Nha-
Ke Bang National Park meanwhile
surely belongs to Vietnam’s best researched
nature reserves. Almost 20%
of its amphibian and reptile species are
listed in the Red Data List of Vietnam.
In future, we will engage in proceeding
our diversity studies in close cooperation
with our Vietnamese partners to
provide the National Park as well as
the local authorities the knowledge
and the required tools for a long-term
conservation of the region’s unique
biodiversity.