The Truong Son rock rat is a rare rodent of the Diatomyidae family, once considered extinct since the Miocene. This species was first rediscovered in 2016 in the Phong Nha - Ke Bang limestone mountain range. This is an endemic species, distributed only in the limestone mountains along the Truong Son range, in the territories of Vietnam and Laos.
According to Mr. Thai, this is the first time that Truong Son rock rats have been clearly photographed in the wild while foraging. The images were recorded from a modern camera trap program implemented by the National Park in collaboration with international conservation organizations, deployed since the end of 2024. To date, a total of 424 photos of rock rats have been collected at 10 camera trap stations in the strictly protected area.
Notably, the new images have expanded the species' distribution area, with new records at stations PN-KB 77, PN-KB 80, PN-KB 97 and continued detections at stations PN-KB 115, PN-KB 121.
Mr. Pham Hong Thai emphasized: "The recording of the Truong Son rock rat in the wild is not only a shocking discovery in the biological world, but also emphasizes the vital importance of strictly protected areas, and at the same time poses new responsibilities for conservation work in the context of climate change and increasing habitat encroachment. This is a rare victory for conservation when a species is "returned" to life after 11 million years of being considered lost."
Previously, in 2020, the Truong Son rock rat species had only been confirmed through specimens, and no photos had ever been taken of the creature living in the wild. Therefore, the success of this camera trapping program is considered an important milestone in biodiversity conservation efforts in Vietnam.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/quang-tri-ghi-nhan-hinh-anh-song-loai-chuot-tung-duoc-cho-la-tuyet-chung-11-trieu-nam-truoc-post806433.html
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