A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

By Huynh Phuong, Andy Nguyen   September 25, 2021 | 06:00 am PT
Surrounded by green pine forests, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong Province, famed for trekking and overnight camping, hosts hundreds of fauna and thousands of flora species.
A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park was established in 2004 and is named after the two highest peaks on the Langbiang plateau: Bidoup (2,287 meters) and Nui Ba (2,167 meters). In 2019, it was added to the list of ASEAN heritage parks.

Around 50 kilometers from downtown Da Lat, the park boasts a rich biodiversity, green pine forests and lots of fresh air.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

Guest accommodation inside the national park includes 60 airy rooms. With a capacity of more than 100 people, it regularly hosts scientific expeditions.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

Green-backed tit (Parus monticolus) perches on a branch. The species has a black head with white cheeks and pale yellow underparts. The female has yellower underparts with a smaller black stripe.

In Vietnam, it always appears on the Da Lat plateau.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

The plumbeous water redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus) is easily captured on the way from Highway 27C leading to the national park. The species tends to live near fast-moving streams and rivers.

The male birds (pictured) are slate blue in color with a tail that is rusty red, while female birds are pale grey and feature a white rump.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus) is distinguished from similar species by its slate grey forehead, crown, and mantle. It has a long and deeply forked tail banded in black and white, a white rump, and a white bar across its primary feathers while the rest of its plumage is predominantly white.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

A man holds a copper-headed trinket snake (Coelognathus radiatus). Despite being a non-venomous species, these snakes are generally very defensive and confident in their ability to defend themselves.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

The Vietnamese Greenfinch (Carduelis monguilloti) is a small passerine bird in the family Fringillidae. It is found only in Vietnam, mainly on Langbiang Plateau.

The Vietnamese greenfinch weighs between 15 and 16 grams. It has a large conical bill, a black head and narrow bright yellow collar. The plumage of the female is similar to that of the male but less brightly colored.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

Indochinese gliding lizard (Draco indochinensis) is capable of gliding flight via membranes that may be extended to create wings, formed by an enlarged set of ribs.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

The rufous-throated partridge (Arborophila rufogularis) is popular inside Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and enters the breeding season between March and May every year.

This partridge feeds in groups of five to ten birds. It eats seeds, plant shoots, berries, insects and snails. Both sexes have a bright orange throat, a bluish-gray chest, and orange-and-white spotting on the sides.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

The Blue Pitta (Hydrornis cyaneus) has a yellow forehead and crown and a bright orange nape.

The male has a blue back and tail and pale bluish breast, speckled with black while the female has a grey back and pale grey breast, speckled with black. They always feed in dense forests with less light.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

The black-crowned fulvetta (Schoeniparus klossi) is only found on Langbiang Plateau. This species is small in size and has an olive-brown upper body and light brown lower end.

A wildlife kingdom in the Central Highlands

Collared laughingthrush (Trochalopteron yersini) is endemic to Vietnam. This species has a combination of black head, silver ear patch, orange neck and breast, and multicolored wings.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

A one-day tour to Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park organized by Andy Nguyen costs from VND1.2 to 2.5 million per person, including entry ticket that allows tourists to go trekking and discover the wildlife kingdom inside one of the country’s largest national parks.

Photos by Andy Nguyen

 
 
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