Park officials said the herd was detected in April 2026 within forest areas managed by the national park.

Initial footage recorded four individuals belonging to a species classified under Group 1B - the category reserved for endangered, rare and strictly protected forest animals in Vietnam.

Authorities believe the actual number of animals could be larger than what appeared in the first recordings.

“Following the discovery of this rare herd, we immediately strengthened patrols and tightened monitoring in the area where the animals were detected,” a park leader said. “Forest protection forces have also been deployed to remove traps set by local people to hunt wild animals.”

Yok Don National Park covers roughly 115,000 hectares and is considered one of Vietnam’s most biologically diverse protected areas.

The park is home to many large mammals, including elephants, wild cattle, gaurs and deer - all species considered rare and valuable wildlife that are placed under strict protection and monitoring.

Wild cattle typically inhabit low mountainous regions and sparse forests.

As a Group 1B species, all acts involving hunting, slaughtering, captivity, transportation or trade are strictly prohibited under Vietnamese law.

Violators can face criminal prosecution.

Images of the rare wild cattle herd captured in Yok Don National Park in late April 2026 showed several adult animals grazing deep inside the forest.