A tiny species believed to be extinct for nearly three decades has finally been caught on camera in the forests of Viet Nam. The silver-backed chevrotain (Tragulus versicolor)—a rabbit-sized creature with a silvery sheen on its back—has been rediscovered in the wild, after last being recorded in 1990.
This discovery brings new hope for the conservation of rare wildlife, especially in Southeast Asia, a region known for its rich biodiversity but also for its growing environmental threats.
Despite its name, the silver-backed chevrotain is neither a mouse nor a deer. It is the world’s smallest hoofed mammal (ungulate), known for its two small fangs and a distinctive walking style, almost tiptoeing on its tiny hooves.
Previously, the species was only known from a handful of old specimens, with the last evidence coming from a carcass obtained from a local hunter near Nha Trang in 1990. Since then, there had been no scientific record—until a team from Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) launched a search to find it again.
From Local Stories to Photographic Evidence
The search began with reports from local villagers and forest rangers who claimed to have seen a strange, deer-like animal. Based on these leads, researchers set up camera traps in the lowland forests of southern Viet Nam.
Within the first five months, they captured 275 photographs. Additional cameras later produced nearly 1,900 more images from 208 separate sightings—all confirming the presence of the silver-backed chevrotain in the wild.
This marks the first living record of the species in its natural habitat, rather than as a preserved specimen. Scientists are now focused on determining how many individuals are left and how best to protect them from threats.
A Real Threat Beneath the Tropical Forests
The story of the silver-backed chevrotain is just one of many examples of hidden species dwelling in Viet Nam’s forests. The Annamite Mountains, stretching along the Viet Nam–Laos border, are home to a wide array of unique animals and plants that evolved in isolation.
Among them is the saola, a long-horned mammal discovered only in 1992, which remains a mystery due to its unclear evolutionary relatives.
But all this natural wealth is under severe threat from poaching and habitat destruction. In just one conservation area, over 23,000 snares were recorded in 2015.
Species like the saola haven’t been seen since 2013, and large animals such as the Viet Namese rhinoceros have already gone extinct due to relentless hunting. The silver-backed chevrotain may have survived, but that doesn't mean it is safe.
Rare Plants Under the Same Threat
It's not just fauna—Viet Nam has also documented over 1,100 new plant species since 1990, including the rare slipper orchids. Unfortunately, many of these were found not in the wild, but in black markets. One Viet Namese orchid species was reportedly sold for up to US$5,000 per plant, even before it was scientifically documented in its natural habitat.
The Delanati orchid, once thought extinct for 70 years, resurfaced—ironically—after becoming popular in international trade. Sadly, most of these species were immediately classified as critically endangered, as their wild populations had already been severely depleted.
Hope Through Community Collaboration
One key lesson from the rediscovery of the silver-backed chevrotain is the importance of involving local communities. Without guidance from villagers and forest rangers, the species likely would have remained hidden.
A similar approach could be applied in the search for other rare species in remote or inaccessible areas.
Source:
Nature Ecology and Evolution DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-1027-7
