Rare white-eared night heron rediscovered in Vietnam after more than a decade

A survey conducted from March 31 to Monday confirmed the species’ presence in forest streams and limestone habitats.

The survey was conducted by a team from WILDTOUR, the People Resources and Conservation Foundation, and the University of Science under Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, with support from park officials. 

The goal was to confirm the species’ presence and gather data on its habitat, nesting behavior, and potential threats.

The species was last reliably documented in Ba Be between 2008 and 2011, when researchers recorded nests and multiple individuals, indicating the area was once an important habitat for the bird.

Officials said the rediscovery provides a basis for conservation planning and biodiversity protection, although threats such as hunting, habitat disturbance, water pollution, and forest degradation remain.

The white-eared night heron is a nocturnal and elusive waterbird that typically lives alone or in pairs along shaded forest streams, making it one of the least observed species in Vietnam.

It is classified as critically endangered in Vietnam’s Red Data Book and listed as endangered globally, with strict legal protections banning hunting, trapping, trading or possession.

Violators are subject to criminal penalties under Vietnamese law.