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Cai
Nuoc (Tan Hung) Bird Colony
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Location:
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8°58'N, 105°06'E; near the southern tip of the Mekong Delta, 25 km SSW of Ca Mau, Cai Nuoc District, Minh Hai Province. |
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Area:
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Bird colony 13 ha; reserve 20 ha. |
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Altitude:
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0.5m. |
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Biogeographical
Province:
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4.5.1. |
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Wetland
type:
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07. |
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Description
of site:
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A small patch of mangrove forest in the southern part of the Mekong Delta, surrounded by agricultural land with many canals and human settlements. The forest holds one of the largest breeding colonies of waterbirds in the Mekong Delta. |
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Climatic
conditions:
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Tropical monsoonal climate with a pronounced dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November. The average annual rainfall is 2,360 mm, the mean annual temperature 25.5°C, and the mean relative humidity 85.6%. |
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Principal
vegetation:
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Mangrove forest dominated by Phoenix paludosa, with scattered Nypa fruticans, Bruguiera parviflora, Excoecaria agallocha and, on the ground, Acrostichum aureum. Lianas such as Flagellaria indica and Sarcolobus globosus are present. Surrounding areas are under cultivation, mainly for rice. |
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Land
tenure:
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State owned. |
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Conservation
measures taken:
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The mangrove forest and environs (20 ha) were declared a protected area by the National Government in 1985. A resident guard is stationed at the bird colony, but the degree of protection is reported to be poor. |
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Conservation
measures proposed:
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Protection measures should be improved and all access to the bird colony should be strictly controlled. |
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Land
use:
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Nature conservation. |
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Possible
changes in land use:
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| Disturbances and threats: | There is a considerable amount of human disturbance at the colony and illegal harvesting of eggs and young birds for human consumption. |
| Economic and social values: | No information. |
| Fauna: | The Cai Nuoc bird colony is one of the three largest breeding colonies of waterbirds in the Mekong Delta. Thirty species of waterbirds are known to breed, the most abundant being cormorants (Phalacrocorax spp) and herons and egrets (Ardeidae). The colony is particularly noteworthy for its breeding Anhinga melanogaster (15-20 individuals), Anastomus oscitans (over 100), Threskiornis melanocephalus (500-600) and Plegadis falcinellus (1,000-1,300). |
| Special floral values: | None known. |
| Research and facilities: | Some preliminary surveys and censuses have been carried out at the colony, but no detailed studies have been made. |
| References: | Le Dien Duc (1984); Le Dien Duc & Le Dinh Thuy (1987); Luthin (198Th); Phung Trung Ngan (1987); Vo An ha & Nguyen Dinh Dien (1985); Va Quy (1984); Vo Quy & Le Dien Duc (1984). |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 2c, 3a. |
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Source:
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Le Dien Duc. |