Nagao NEF project:
Species diversity of terrestrial vertebrates in
the mountains of Indochina

Field survey in Xuan Nha nature reserve,
Son La province, Northwest Vietnam

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Masaharu Motokawa
Professor, The Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University

–Travel–Field survey in Xuan Nha nature reserve,
Son La province, Northwest Vietnam2024 August 4 – 2024 August 17

Two pick-up cars,
197 km from Hanoi
4h30 driving

”White stone” pass (Hoa Binh province).
The most beautiful pass in National Highway No. 6

National Highway 6 is a road like a silk strip in the clouds, passing through manymountains, with many sharp turns and steep slopes.

We had lunch witha friend of Dr. Bui,
who was born inthe province ofSon La.
Mr. Chung (blueshirt andeyeglasses) helped
the team buy local
cage traps.

Field survey in Xuan Nha nature reserve,
Son La province, Northwest Vietnam2024 August 4 – 2024 August 17– Habitats and Environment –The main habitat of the study area is the post-extraction secondary forest on the highmountains. Meanwhile, the foothills at lower altitudes are usually corn fields, sticky rice dry
paddy field and paddy field.

Common habitat types
include rice fields, plantedforests, bamboo forests,
post-extraction secondary
forest dirt mountains, andprimary forests onlimestone mountain tops.

Typical paddy field in theNorthwest Vietnam

Buffaloes, cows, pigs, horses, and their traces are frequently found in the study area.

To care for livestock and poultry, people built
simple houses in the forest for overnight stays.

Forest on limestone mountains at altitudes of 800 m and aboveForest habitats on mountain tops in the study area

Our biggest challenge, inaddition to the long distance andsteep slopes into the forest, wasthe unpredictable weather in theresearch area.

The heat from early morning, alongwith the showers and thunderstorms
in the late afternoon, made our climb
up and down the 500-meter altitudedifference feel like an extreme sport.

Field survey in Xuan Nha nature reserve,
Son La province, Northwest Vietnam2024 August 4 – 2024 August 17– ResearchActivities–

The team includes researchers, students, forest rangers, and local people.

Each day, we climbed a path with an average slope of up to 30 degrees,
including sections that exceeded 60 degrees.

The sweat-soaked
clothes are clear
evidence of ourresearch efforts inchallenging terrain
and weatherconditions.

Distribute Sherman
traps to themembers.

Using oat milk as bait.

Cat dry food andfresh corn are also
used as bait.

Setting Sherman trap

Setting camera trap

Setting mole trap

Local cage traps and pitfall traps are installedwith the assistance of local people.

Setting harp trap

Setting mist net

Collectinganimals

“Treat the expensive Sherman traps well”, many of which aresupported by Nagao NEF.

Specimen processing

Specimen processing

Specimen processing

Live animal studio photography
and specimen photography

Bat photography and ecolocation recordingReptile specimens processing

Students training

– Live animals photos –Field survey in Xuan Nha nature reserve,
Son La province, Northwest Vietnam2024 August 4 – 2024 August 17

A Fruit Bat

A Spiny Rat

A House Rat

A Tree Rat

A Niviventer

A white-toothed Rat

A small flying SquirrelA pipistrelleA mouse-eared bat

A Fruit Bat

A Horseshoe bat

A Roundleaf bat

A Bamboo Bat

A Trident Bat

A Newt

Field survey in Xuan Nha nature reserve,
Son La province, Northwest Vietnam2024 August 4 – 2024 August 17– Life in the field survey
and Communication –”Camping homestay”

Breakfast

Lunches in the forestDinners

Resting

The teacher-student relationship is increasingly strengthened.

Language differences don't stop the connections and smiles.

Legal drinking age in Vietnam is 18,and in Japan is 20

We attended a “New Rice” party to celebrate a bountiful harvest and pray for goodluck. Taking this opportunity, we collected valuable information about biodiversity
and promoted the importance of biodiversity conservation and its related laws.

Legal drinking age in Vietnam is 18,and in Japan is 20

We came for science and the environment, brought knowledge to share, and learned
a lot from the local culture. We will remember these happy smiles forever.