The Gaur (scientifically known as Bos gaurus), one of the ten rareanimal species found in Cat Tien National Park, needs specialprotection, said local officials in the central highlands province ofLam Dong.

Deputy chief ranger of the Cat Tien National ParkNguyen Van Minh expressed his concern for the safety of the gaur herd inthe park after the death of the last rhino was confirmed on Oct. 25.

The bull’s gall and meat are much sought after in the market which makes it an attractive target of poachers.

Thoughno wild bull hunting case has been discovered so far, the park’srangers have seized an average five home-made guns each month frompoachers, said Minh, adding that those poachers did not get prosecutedas the law does not stipulate any punishment of the use of home-madeguns.

Director of the park Tran Van Thanh also said rangersdetect more than 20,000 traps each year, one tenth of which are trapsdesigned for catching big animals like the gaur.

According toThanh, the park is now home to 3-4 gaur herds with around 100individuals. After the gaur was spotted in the park, the French embassyand the French Agency for World Environment Protection (FFEM) provided580,000 EUR to the Cat Tien National Park in 2006 to protect genes ofwild animals, especially wild bulls.

To protect forests ingeneral and the rare species in particular, Secretary of the Cat Tiendistrict Party’s Committee Huynh Van Dau emphasised the importance toimprove the living conditions of local people. According to him, inaddition to some 40 communes bordering the Cat Tien Park, there are upto 18,000 people living inside the core zone and the buffer zone of thepark, who still depend on forest products for livelihood. /.