CAT TIÊN NATIONAL PARK (DONG NAI BIOSPHERE)

Cat Tiên National Park covers 728,000 ha of which 73,800 ha is primary forest. Classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, it is home to 1,610 species of plants, 348 birds, 103 mammals, 79 reptiles, 133 freshwater fish and 335 butterflies. There are elephants (herds sometimes come to ravage the surrounding villages), crocodiles and several herds of gaur(Bos gaurus) a species of wild buffalo that does not fear the tiger. Thanks to a program financed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an operation was able to identify more than a hundred animals, the largest concentration in the country. DNA samples have been collected with a view to genetic management for the conservation of the species. The crocodiles are the subject of a specialized conservation program. They were almost exterminated by man, who hunted them in a frantic manner. To visit the park, contact the offices at the entrance of the park, which offer excursions and the possibility of night-time wildlife viewing. About 15 km from the entrance, do not miss the crocodile swamp. The park offers the opportunity for a real discovery of the primary forest. For wildlife, however, it is likely that the only cats that can be observed are those that populate the rehabilitation enclosures after having miraculously escaped the traps of poachers.