A project was carried out in Ben En National Park in the central province of Thanh Hoa to evaluate the preservation of rare water birds from 2013-2016 as part of efforts to devise solutions to protect the animals.
White-throated kingfisher is among 40 kinds of water bird found in Ben En National Park (Photo: VNA) The management board of Ben En National Park also worked with local youth unions, women’s union and schools to raise public awareness of water bird conservation while organising training for forest rangers. Preventing the encroachment of mimosa pigra into Muc Lake and controlling local burn-and-slash farming as well as fishing were also on the table. Le Dinh Phuong, vice director of the park management board, said that the board will take further measures to preserve the water bird population while asking authorities to recognise the 3,500-hectare Muc wetland, where the birds nest and look for food, as a Ramsar site. According to the board’s survey, Ben En National Park is currently home to 40 species of water birds with a total of around 3,270 individuals. Of these, there are many animals listed in the Vietnam Red book, including the great cormorant, woolly-necked stork, Chinese egret, Asian openbill and crested kingfisher. Ben En National Park was established in 1992 and has gradually expanded. It is not only a protected breeding ground for many rare creatures but also an attractive destination for ecotourism. Ben En has a diverse system of lakes, caves, mountains and forests.
