Cat Tien: Wildlife Haven

Cat Tien: Wildlife Haven

Cat Tien National Park is one of Vietnam’s eight UNESCO world biosphere reserves. Of the 19 bird orders in the whole of Vietnam, 18 are inhabiting in Cat Tien. Located in the southern provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc and the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Cat Tien is also home to 1,600 rare animal and plant species each.
 
Some of the endangered species that can be found in the park are the black-shanked duoc (Pygathrix nigripes), mountain or helmeted toad (Sindora siamensis), branched oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus Cornucopiae) and go do (Afzelia xylocarpa). And while Cat Tien is a paradise especially for the nature lovers, it is also very accessible due to recent infrastructure and dedication of forest rangers.
 
Some areas in the park are named after the species they are represented with: Mo Vet (Parrot peak) waterfall, Bau Ca (Fish lake), and Bau Nai (Deer lake). Bau Sau or Crocodile Lake is a must-see area of the park because it is included in the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. The lake is composed of 13,759 hectares underwater and is fairly accessible by car or bicycle being only 14 kilometers away from the guest rooms. The last five kilometers have to be walked though. But with dense forests, century-old trees and wildlife along the way, the long walk is all worth it, even an adventure.
 
From daytime to night, different kinds of animals can be seen in the park from peacocks to crocodiles. Most of the time, visitors come in specialized groups depending on their interest of species. The tour takes about 50 minutes and has to be booked in advance due to the large number of tourists visiting the park.
 
The Endangered Primates Species Center on Tien (Fairy) Island opened in 2008 in the park with the mission of saving and rehabilitating primates take from poachers in nearby areas. At the moment, shanked duocs, silver langurs, and pygmy loris are being prepared for re-release into the wild. Visitors have the opportunity to see them and learn about their stories at a cost of only VND150,000 (US$8) per trip. The Cat Tien Bear and Wild Cat Rescue Station is another center inside the park with the same purpose of rescuing captured animals such as Sun bears, Asian black bears, leopards and crocodiles.
 
Aside from its rich exotic plant and animal life, Cat Tien is also home to two ethnic minority groups, the Ma and the Stieng. Cat Tien respects their history and values by meticulously preserving their traditions like musical instruments, festivals, and life as a whole. Tourists are also given the chance to see and even experience their way of living through a tour and even engaging in the ethnic groups’ activities.
 
The Cat Tien archaeological site is another must-see tourist destination inside the park. Discovered in 1985, it is more than 10 kilometers long stretching along the riverbank of Dong Nai.. It has seven temple towers situated on seven hills. Stone linga and yoni are some important artifacts unearthed in the site. According to scientists, it may have been a holy site during the 3rd-5th centuries. Proof is the discovery of two Hindu remains who were believed to have practiced Brahmanism.
 
Cat Tien National Park is a paradise in Vietnam with its rich and diverse flora, fauna and even human life. A day tour in the park is worth a lifetime of adventure and unforgettable memories.