22.08.2024
Brief look on Vietnamese Wilderness and Herpetofauna
The newly published issue of the international journal ’Responsible Herpetoculture Journal (RHJ)” contains a comprehensive article on current species conservation measures in Vietnam. It is the continuation of the article “Behind the Scenes of Cologne Zoo’s Amphibian and Reptile Department”, which also appeared in the RHJ at the beginning of the year, where Vietnam and the current conservation campaigns VIETNAMAZING and Zoo Species of the Year – The Gecko were already the focus of an interview with Cologne Zoo’s Aquarium curator and Vietnam project coordinator Thomas Ziegler. In the current article, the team of authors, consisting of renowned researchers and conservationists from Vietnam, Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler from Cologne Zoo and Leandro Bergmann, RHJ editor, provide exclusive insights into the biodiversity and fascinating diversity of species in Vietnam, primarily its herpetofauna, but also the country’s habitat richness. However, the threats to this global treasure trove of species are also mentioned and how Vietnam is countering them with conservation measures.
Species conservation organizations active in Vietnam and current species conservation projects are presented, as well as the important topic of environmental education and the involvement of the younger generation based on the Melinh Station for Biodiversity. Of course, VIETNAMAZING, the EAZA species conservation campaign 2024-2025, is presented again. On one hand it aims to preserve Vietnam’s biodiversity in line with the IUCN’s “One Plan Approach to Conservation” with Vietnamese cooperation partners, and on the other hand focuses to bring this species conservation initiative closer to zoo visitors and the public. Further topics include fundraising, the next steps required for successful species conservation and, of course, the role of the conservation zoo as a modern ark that provides space for species that need help, but can also return them to the wild when conditions there have improved. This is what the “One Plan Approach” is all about – pooling expertise and, where necessary, gaining valuable time through zoo conservation breeding in order to take effective action against species extinction. Read the article to find out how such projects work and which species are already involved.