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“The tragedy of the Vietnamese Javan rhinoceros is a sad symbol of this extinction crisis,” said Nick Cox, manager of WWF’s Species Program in the Greater Mekong.
“The single most important action to conserve Vietnam’s endangered species is protecting their natural habitat and deterring poaching and illegal wildlife trade – the report shows that these actions were inadequate to save the Javan rhino in Vietnam and this continued situation will no doubt lead to the extinction of many more species from Vietnam. Vietnam’s protected areas need more rangers, better training and monitoring, and more accountability,” he said.
Dr. Dang Huy Huynh, Chair of the Vietnam Zoology Association, said: “It is a said and painful fact that Javan rhino is extinct in Vietnam. But this is a lesson for us to preserve other species.”
Huynh said Vietnam needs to protect bulls, elephants, tigers and other species that are extremely endangered. The number of elephants is sharply falling in Vietnam while tigers are disappearing in the country.
Preservation cannot rely on scientists, Huynh said. “We need the understanding and support of people who live around forest and supportive policies from the government. Otherwise, we will have such sad announcements in the future.”
Cox said that the most important factor to protect animals from extinction is protecting their natural living environment and preventing illegal hunting and trafficking activities. Nature reserves in Vietnam need more forest rangers who must be better trained and supervised, he added.
According to WWF, yellow stags are disappearing in Vietnam. The country has only several hundreds of saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) and around 250 Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys. White-shouldered Ibis and fresh-water crocodile are also considered as extinction in Vietnam.
Pictures of the last Javan rhino in Vietnam:
The footprint of the last Javan rhino.
The place where the dead rhino was found.
The rhino leg with a bullet.
Rhino bones.
The rhino head without horn.
1 Ivory-billed Woodpecker
A native of the south-eastern US, it may already be extinct, the victim of loss of habitat
and hunting for its feathers.
and hunting for its feathers.
2 Amur Leopard
Found in Russia’s Far East in remote snowy forests, there are thought
to be only 40 left. They are the victim of poaching and logging.
to be only 40 left. They are the victim of poaching and logging.
3 Javan Rhinoceros
Hunted to extinction in Vietnam, according to the WWF. The country's last remaining
rhino in the Cat Tien National Park was discovered dead, shot in the leg with its valuable horn cut off, last April.
rhino in the Cat Tien National Park was discovered dead, shot in the leg with its valuable horn cut off, last April.
4 Great Bamboo Lemur
This is the rarest of Madagascar’s dwindling lemur species. Just 100 remain,
threatened by illegal hunting and habitat loss.
threatened by illegal hunting and habitat loss.
5 Northern Right Whale
Hunted almost to extinction, only 350 are believed to be left in the Atlantic.
6 Mountain Gorilla
Just 700 remain, poached to the edge of extinction in two pockets of east-central Africa.
Their demise has been hastened by political instability which has resulted loss of habitat.
Their demise has been hastened by political instability which has resulted loss of habitat.
7 Leatherback Sea Turtle
The world’s largest turtle, its numbers have dropped alarmingly. Eggs laid on beaches
are snatched by humans. Nesting grounds have also been lost through coastal erosion.
are snatched by humans. Nesting grounds have also been lost through coastal erosion.
8 Siberian Tiger
It lives in Russia’s frozen Far East where hunting saw numbers plummet to just 40
in the 1930s, rebounding to 500 today because of protection. But they are still threatened by poaching.
in the 1930s, rebounding to 500 today because of protection. But they are still threatened by poaching.
9 Giant Chinese Salamander
The world’s largest amphibian that can grow to 6ft is being eaten to extinction
in its native areas of central and southern China.
in its native areas of central and southern China.
10 Hawaiian Monk Seal
Fewer than 1,000 remain, living far from humans across the whole Hawaiian island chain.
Their numbers are falling, but scientists are uncertain why.
Their numbers are falling, but scientists are uncertain why.
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