Identification:
- Body Length: 52 – 58 cm. Adult males have a black, iridescent green head and neck, with a long crest. The foreneck, breast, and mid-ventral area are creamy white. The flanks are dark gray-scaled. Females have a pale chestnut-brown head. Juveniles do not show clear flank scaling.
Biology and Ecology:
- The Mandarin Duck inhabits and forages in hilly regions, along large rivers and streams, and areas with old-growth forests. These habitats are typically found at elevations below 500 meters above sea level. They nest in tree cavities within primary forests in eastern Russia and northeastern China (79, 108). This species is a winter migrant to Vietnam and Thailand.
Distribution:
- In Vietnam:
- Historically: Northwestern and Northeastern regions (Lào Cai, Bắc Kạn, Thái Nguyên).
- Currently: No current information available.
- Worldwide: Former Soviet Union, China (Taiwan), Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Value:
- A valuable genetic resource facing decline both regionally and globally.
Conservation Status:
- Based on available documentation, two male specimens were collected in Bắc Kạn, along the Cầu River, in 1926 (Delacour et al., 1928). Subsequent observations were reported in Lào Cai, near the border with Yunnan, China (Delacour, 1929). This species is threatened and experiencing a rapid decline in population size within its regional and global range.
- The estimated global population is approximately 3,600 – 4,500 individuals, with about 200 – 250 breeding pairs in China.
- The primary threats include habitat loss due to deforestation along lakes, wetlands, and major rivers, conversion of land for agriculture, human disturbances like motorboats, fishing with nets and explosives, and hunting. These impacts are particularly severe in their nesting areas.
Ranking:
- DD (Data Deficient)
Conservation Measures:
- Listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (1992, 2000) and Appendix II of CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals). Many forest areas in northwestern and northeastern Vietnam are under restoration and protection. The entire northwestern and northeastern region has approximately 50 protected areas, including national parks, nature reserves, and historical-cultural sites, both established and proposed. These areas are suitable for investigating the presence of Mandarin Ducks and for the recovery and protection of their populations in northern Vietnam.
- In addition to conservation education and awareness, it is necessary to strengthen measures to prevent violations of forest and wildlife regulations, even within existing protected areas.