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The Truong Son muntjac was only recently discovered and no living specimen has ever been seen by scientists.
© WWF Greater Mekong Programme
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The Truong Son muntjac was discovered in April 1997 by scientists from WWF, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Da Nang University.
After the Institute of Zoology, University of Copenhagen, analysed genetic tissue samples, it was confirmed as a new species of muntjac. All current descriptions are based on interviews with local villagers and examinations of skulls.
Physical Description
Unlike the common muntjac, the black Truong Son muntjac's antlers are extremely short (about a thumbnail's length), and it lacks the second spike or brow tine. Its pedicles are also short. It is about half the size of the common muntjac and weighs around 15kg.
Habitat
The new muntjac lives at altitudes ranging from 400-1000 metres, in forests with a dense undergrowth. Its small size allows it to move freely through dense vegetation.
Range States
Lao PDR, Vietnam
What are the main threats?
The main threat to this species is hunting for local meat consumption and the bushmeat trade. Habitat loss is also a factor which will impact negatively on the Truong Son muntjac, in particular the large-scale replacement of natural forests with rubber plantations to supply the burgeoning Chinese market.
Physical Description
Unlike the common muntjac, the black Truong Son muntjac's antlers are extremely short (about a thumbnail's length), and it lacks the second spike or brow tine. Its pedicles are also short. It is about half the size of the common muntjac and weighs around 15kg.
Habitat
The new muntjac lives at altitudes ranging from 400-1000 metres, in forests with a dense undergrowth. Its small size allows it to move freely through dense vegetation.
Range States
Lao PDR, Vietnam
What are the main threats?
The main threat to this species is hunting for local meat consumption and the bushmeat trade. Habitat loss is also a factor which will impact negatively on the Truong Son muntjac, in particular the large-scale replacement of natural forests with rubber plantations to supply the burgeoning Chinese market.
Researcher holding two skulls of the never seen Truong Son muntjac (Muntiacus truongsonensis).
What is WWF doing?
To conserve the Truong Son muntjac, WWF are engaged in the following:
- Transboundary project (1995-1999) fostered cooperation between Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia to conserve the forest of Truong Son mountain range.
- The Song Thanh Nature Reserve (on-going) home of Truong Son muntjac is being supported in its initial stages as a nature reserve.
- WWF is also working to protect habitat through its Vietnam Green Corridor project.
Priority region
How you can help
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Did you know?
- Local people call it samsoi cacoong, which means "the deer that lives in the deep, thick forest".
- The Truong Son muntjac is the third new species of large mammal that scientists have discovered in Vietnam in recent years.