Kien Giang – A rare species of slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum callosum,
has been found in the Phu Quoc National Park in Kien Giang Province.
The discovery was made during a trek taken by Wild-life at Risk (WAR)
consultants as part of an ongoing collaborative research programme between WAR
and the national park that began this year.
The authors of Slipper Orchids of Vietnam, Paphiopedilum callosum (known as Lan
Van Hai in Vietnamese) said the orchid had previously been found in the central
provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue and Gia Lai-Kon Tum, usually
at an altitude between 800 and 1,100m.
The Phu Quoc specimen was found growing among leaf mould on a wet rocky slope
just 310m above sea level.
The team came across the orchid in May during the flowering season.
Illegal trade poses a continuing threat to Vietnam's increasingly rare slipper
orchid's, which are highly prized by collectors. |
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Wild populations have seriously declined in number as a result of overexploitation.
Paphiopedilum callosum is one of several endangered slipper orchids listed in a
Government decision that explicitly forbids trade in the species.
This species is classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List and listed in the
Appendix I of CITES (The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species).
This latest discovery is a further illustration of Phu Quoc National Park's
ecological value and underlines the importance of protecting the island's flora
and fauna from uncontrolled or poorly managed development, authorities said.
"It is hoped that the presence of this and other animal, and plant rarities will
generate additional support for the park authorities in the management and
protection of the forest and the valuable natural resources that it harbours,"
WAR said in a press release.
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