Corbetts or Indo-Chinese Tiger Reserves and National Parks in detail. Muong Nhe National Park.

Reserves

Prior to the 1990's, Vietnam's Muong Nhe Nature Reserve was considered one of the most valuable large mammal protected areas in the country. But since the reserve was established in 1986 the local human population has grown rapidly as people move in to start hill farming. The inevitable result has been that the park and its wildlife, particularly the large species like tigers, have suffered.

In 1995, approximately 200 tigers were thought to be left in Vietnam, now this is may be down to as low as 80; how many remain in Muong Nhe is anybody's guess. Lack of funds means there is no hope of a census. Illegal hunting, loss of habitat, people gathering wood and bamboo from the forest; all of these contribute to the problems.

In its best years Muong Nhe Nature Reserve had an estimated population of 300 elephant, now there is nothing which suggests any still remain. Herds of sambar and gaur are small and scattered, while animals like tigers, sun bears, black bears, white-cheeked gibbons, stump-tailed macaques, langurs, and dholes are at low levels and declining by the day.

Muong Nhe has a total area of 1,820 square kilometres; attempts have been made to get this increased, but so far this has been to no avail. Various surveys have been carried out, but no investment or progressive management plans have resulted.

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