- Vietnam -
When I posted about chevrotains back in April many said they had never heard of them.
They are the smallest hoofed mammals in the world also known as ‘mouse-deer’.
They are so small they fit in a hand. They are not mice, nor are they deer.
According to the Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC), chevrotains were last seen in 1990 when a hunter killed one and then handed the body over to scientists.
These beautiful creatures were believed and feared to be extinct but to the conservationists’ surprise, they have been captured on camera traps for the first time in three decades in a Vietnamese forest.
The announcement was made on Monday, November 11, by the GWC among other agencies.
Mr. An Nguyen, a scientist and expedition team leader at GWC, said: “We had no idea what to expect, so I was surprised and overjoyed when we checked the camera traps and saw photographs of a chevrotain with silver flanks.”
Mr. Nguyen also said:
“Discovering that it is, indeed, still out there is the first step in ensuring we don’t lose it again, and we’re moving quickly now to figure out how best to protect it.”
Chevrotains are very mysterious and shy which makes it difficult for scientists to study them.
They use smells and noises to communicate.
These beautiful creatures don’t have horns or antlers for protection and therefore live in solitude, they often graze alone and only come together to mate.
They are nocturnal so it’s very rare to spot them.
Now that we know they are out there, please let’s not lose them again.
Do not hunt them, kill them or experiment on them. Leave them alone!!!
First picture by: Uspn
