Rare, endangered moon bear discovered in Huong Hoa

A 150-kg black bear has recently been discovered in the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve in the central province of Quang Tri.

The Management Board of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve on November 26 announced that local scientists had identified a moon bear, a rare and endangered species.

The newly founded 150-kg moon bear. Photo: Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve

According to the announcement, a camera trap in the reserve had captured images of various local wildlife, including the 150-kg moon bear, which is urgently in need of protection. In response, officials have implemented strict protective measures to safeguard the bear and other species in the area.

Ha Van Hoan, Director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board, explained that the reserve, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), had set up digital camera traps to search for signs of the endangered Sao La species.

During this effort, the cameras also recorded images of several other rare species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), including red-faced monkeys, pangolins, striped rabbits, white pheasants, red-shanked douc langurs, white-naped langurs, as well as various birds, weasels, civets, wild boars, and more.

The moon bear (Ursus thibetanus), also known as the Tibetan black bear, Himalayan black bear, or Asiatic black bear, is a medium-sized bear with sharp claws and a distinctive white or cream “V” marking on its chest. Classified as a rare species in the World Red Book, the moon bear is considered one of the most vulnerable animals facing extinction.

Nguyen An- Jenna Duong