In the orange shirt of an electricity worker, Mr. Pham Viet Thang is very familiar with the days of sun and rain surveying power lines, familiar with the roads along the deep green forests around Vu Quang, Huong Khe and Huong Son districts (Ha Tinh province). During his trips, Mr. Thang often encountered people selling rare animals hunted in the forest. Unable to bear it, he used his own money to buy them back and return them to nature. Gradually, it became a habit, and to date, he has handed over 44 rare turtles to Vu Quang National Park. In early 2022, Nghi Xuan people were excited when someone advertised to sell golden monkeys and pythons. Knowing that these were rare animals, Mr. Nguyen Duc Dan (Nghi Xuan district) tried every way to buy them back and hand them over to Vu Quang National Park for care and release back into the wild. Mr. Thang and Mr. Dan are two of many people who have spent their own money to buy back illegally hunted wild animals. According to statistics from 2020, Vu Quang National Park has received and cared for 657 animals; released 645 animals of 20 species back into the forest, many of which are listed in the Vietnam and world Red Books.

Over the past three years, nearly 650 wild animals have been released back into the wild at Vu Quang National Park. Photo: Quang Dinh

Established on July 30, 2002, Vu Quang National Park (Ha Tinh) is located in the center of the Truong Son mountain range, between Pu Mat National Park in the North and Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in the South. With an area of ​​over 57,000 hectares, Vu Quang National Park is identified as a global priority ecological area, holding important values ​​in biodiversity conservation for Vietnam as well as the Southeast Asian region.

Vu Quang National Park has a large area with a rich and diverse ecosystem. Photo: Vu Quang National Park

Photo: Vu Quang National Park

Vu Quang National Park is divided into 5 forest types according to different belts. The most impressive of which is the “Rao Co” area, 2,300 m above sea level and very few people have access to. This area is characterized by the “Tropical Evergreen Rainforest Ecosystem” and the “Low Mountain Evergreen Rainforest Ecosystem”, which is home to thousands of species of flora and fauna of great conservation value both domestically and internationally.

Photo: Vu Quang National Park

According to statistics, the fauna in the park includes 94 species of mammals, 315 species of birds, 89 species of amphibians and reptiles, 88 species of bony fish, 316 species of butterflies... many species are endangered according to different levels of strict conservation and protection.

This is the "common home" of nearly 1,000 different animal species. Photo: Vu Quang National Park

In addition, the park has 1,823 species belonging to 202 families of higher plants. Of which, 131 species are endangered species, at high risk of extinction and need to be prioritized for conservation. With its biodiversity values ​​and importance in conservation, in 2019, Vu Quang National Park was recognized by the AHP Council as a "Southeast Asian Heritage Park". In terms of ecological landscape, the park has many places worth exploring such as Rao Rong stream with cool, clear water stretching over 20km; Thang Day waterfall over 40m high in the middle of the forest; Nam Cham stream with many waterfalls and blue lakes; Ngan Truoi lake - one of the 3 largest reservoirs in Vietnam.

Ngan Truoi Lake - one of the largest reservoirs in Vietnam. Photo: Vu Quang National Park

In addition to ecological values, this area also holds many historical values ​​of the Can Vuong uprising against the French by Phan Dinh Phung's army in the late 19th century with vestiges, ramparts and temples. This is a great potential and advantage to attract resources, build infrastructure to develop eco-tourism associated with spiritual cultural tourism in the area. On the tourist route of Ngan Truoi Lake - Cam Trang - Thanh Cu Phan, visitors can experience activities such as boating to see the scenery, bathing in waterfalls or walking to explore the primeval forest in the area.

With its rich resources, Vu Quang National Park has great potential to become an eco-tourism destination for visitors. Photo: Vu Quang National Park.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the government, the national forest management board as well as the people, Vu Quang National Park still retains its pristine beauty with a majestic and beautiful natural landscape. Mr. Nguyen Danh Ky - Director of Vu Quang National Park said: "If properly invested and developed, Vu Quang National Park will be an ideal destination for tourists from all over to explore eco-tours, for students to be educated about forest protection and environmental protection through practical experiences. These activities are very meaningful in exploiting the maximum potential and advantages that nature has bestowed on Vu Quang in particular and Ha Tinh in general, contributing to local development, creating jobs and stable income for local people."

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/mot-the-gioi-dep-mo-mang-kho-tin-nam-an-minh-trong-day-truong-son-2257118.html