ĐỒNG NAI – A flock of Oriental darters (Anhinga melanogaster), an endangered bird species, have been nesting on an islet in Long An lake in Bửu Long tourist site in the southern province of Đồng Nai, according to Trần Đăng Ninh, chairman of a company that manages the site.

Ninh, who is also President of Đồng Nai Tourism Association, said that the company reported this to the provincial Forest Protection Sub-department for measures to protect the birds.

The birds were first spotted in the area in 2019, with a population of up to 500. They often come to the site in April, breed and fly away in October every year.

However, the flock has declined significantly to about 200 in 2022 and about 150 in 2024, he said, adding the flock includes both juvenile and adult.

Known for their long necks and sharp beaks, Oriental darters hunt for fish underwater, with their bodies submerged and only their heads visible, giving them a serpent-like appearance.

Oriental darters are found in countries such as India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The bird is included in Việt Nam's Red Book of species vulnerable to extinction, and listed in Category 1B of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a group of animals which are threatened with extinction and whose trade is only permitted in exceptional circumstances. VNA/VNS