VietNamNet Bridge – An Australian female scientist’s discovery of a strange frog species in Vietnam has surprised many Vietnamese scientists.

Vu Ngoc Thanh, who has spent 30 years on biology studies at the Biology Museum of the University of Natural Sciences under the Hanoi National University, said: “I have never seen the vampire flying frog that the Australian scientist Jodi Rowley discovered in the south, though I have been to this area many times. The frogs live in small water puddles in tree’s cavities, and therefore, it is very difficult to see them.

Why was the discovery not made by  a native person?

In biology, like in all sciences, there is no concept of borders, territories and countries. All are common to the human kind.

Vietnam has opened its doors  20 years ago, and the scientific cooperation with foreign countries has been strengthened. Therefore, the discovery of an Australian scientist in Vietnam should be seen as a normal thing. Vietnamese scientists also make similar discoveries in Laos.

The forests in Vietnam have been severely damaged. How come new species can still be found?

These living beings do not have the capability to move far. They do not need large forests to live like elephants and tigers. They will still survive until natural forest exists. This shows Vietnam’s  biodiversity.

We sometimes joke that there is nothing more to research in northern forests, because there is no more forest. However, in fact, a lot of new species have been found in the north in the past few years. while in the US, for example, no new species has been found in the US ver the past 20 years. 

Can this be explained by the fact that the US has a large and powerful force of scientists, who have already found everything in the US, while Vietnam does not have qualified scientists and they still cannot find all the species living in Vietnam?

We have to admit our weak points in researching biodiversity. The species live in Vietnam, but they have been discovered by foreigners.

In 2008, my Vietnamese and German colleagues and I discovered a species of frog living in small puddles in tree cavities, and I called it Ech Cay Quyet. Quyet is the name of an old student of mine, who has made big contribution to the biodiversity preservation in Vietnam.

In fact, we have many problems, from the bad management mechanism to the lack of enthusiasm. 

How areVietnamese scientists rewrded when they discover a new species?

Nothing, though they have to spend time, money and can even be physically injured during the scientific research. It sometimes takes scientists 10 years or even more to complete the research process. But they only get one million dong for every article published in scientific journals.

Vietnam has carried out a lot of surveys on the biodiversity of natural reserves and national parks, right?

Not really. It is true that there are many such projects, especially when we prepare to set up sanctuaries or national parks. However, the works are simply just to list the already known species or to come to the conclusion that there exists areas where some species live. We need  scientists who have deep knowledge in specific fields.

For example, Jodi Rowley, who discovered the vampire flying frog, specializes amphibian-reptile studies, particularly in frogs in South East Asia. Meanwhile, most of the Vietnamese scientists try do to everything. They seem to know many things in many fields, but in truth, they do not have deep knowledge in any. Therefore, it is difficult for them to discover a new species.

Source: Tien phong