Cuc Phuong National Park
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🦎 Scale-bellied Tree Lizard SanctuaryCuc Phuong National Park is a dense tropical rainforest located in northern Vietnam, featuring ancient limestone mountains, deep valleys, and shaded jungle trails. This protected expanse is famously home to the vibrant scale-bellied tree lizard, a signature reptile that clings to mossy tree trunks along the main paths during warm afternoon hours.
20.338° N 105.606° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Cuc Phuong Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus cucphuongensis
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Fork-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga christinae
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Scale-bellied Tree Lizard
Acanthosaura lepidogaster
📊 Most Spotted
Common Indian Toad
Duttaphrynus melanostictus
White-bellied Yuhina
Erpornis zantholeuca
Oriental Whipsnake
Ahaetulla prasina
Japanese Thrush
Turdus cardis
Emma Gray's Forest Lizard
Calotes emma
Rufous-throated Fulvetta
Alcippe rufogularis
Puff-throated Bulbul
Alophoixus pallidus
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius
North China Green Snake
Ptyas multicincta
Green-eared Barbet
Psilopogon faiostrictus
📊 Most Spotted
Perny's Long-nosed Squirrel
Dremomys pernyi
Maritime Striped Squirrel
Tamiops maritimus
Northern Treeshrew
Tupaia belangeri
Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel
Belomys pearsonii
Exotic Leaf-nosed Bat
Hipposideros gentilis
Pallas's Squirrel
Callosciurus erythraeus
Mekong White-bellied Rat
Niviventer mekongis
Inornate Squirrel
Callosciurus inornatus
intermediate roundleaf bat
Hipposideros larvatus
Greater Long-tongued Fruit Bat
Macroglossus sobrinus
Masked Palm Civet
Paguma larvata
Great Roundleaf Bat
Hipposideros armiger
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
White-bellied Yuhina
Erpornis zantholeuca
Japanese Thrush
Turdus cardis
Rufous-throated Fulvetta
Alcippe rufogularis
Puff-throated Bulbul
Alophoixus pallidus
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius
Green-eared Barbet
Psilopogon faiostrictus
Red-vented Barbet
Psilopogon lagrandieri
Great Iora
Aegithina lafresnayei
Puff-throated Babbler
Pellorneum ruficeps
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Orthotomus atrogularis
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Cuc Phuong Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus cucphuongensis
★ Scale-bellied Tree Lizard
Acanthosaura lepidogaster
📊 Most Spotted
Oriental Whipsnake
Ahaetulla prasina
Emma Gray's Forest Lizard
Calotes emma
North China Green Snake
Ptyas multicincta
Formosa Slug Snake
Pareas formosensis
Taiwanese Habu
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Chinese Green Tree Viper
Trimeresurus stejnegeri
Palm Gecko
Gekko palmatus
Guangxi cat snake
Boiga guangxiensis
Tawny Cat Snake
Boiga multomaculata
Common Mock Viper
Psammodynastes pulverulentus
Chinese Kukri Snake
Oligodon chinensis
📊 Most Spotted
Common Indian Toad
Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Chinese Flying Frog
Zhangixalus dennysi
Orlov's Treefrog
Rhacophorus orlovi
Arcuate-spotted Pygmy Frog
Microhyla heymonsi
Dotted Bubble-nest Frog
Theloderma albopunctatum
Spot-legged Tree Frog
Polypedates megacephalus
Guangxi Pseudomoustache Toad
Leptobrachium guangxiense
Vietnamese Mossy Frog
Theloderma corticale
John's Frog
Rana johnsi
Bony-headed Toad
Ingerophrynus galeatus
Asian Painted Frog
Kaloula pulchra
Beautiful Pygmy Frog
Microhyla pulchra
Recent sightings in Cuc Phuong National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Cuc Phuong Bird Migration Festival
Thousands of migratory birds, including Japanese Thrush and Rufous-tailed Robin, pass through the park during autumn migration.
2Endemic Reptile and Amphibian Night Walks
The park’s dense forests host high densities of reptiles and amphibians, including the Scale-bellied Tree Lizard and Chinese Flying Frog.
3Primates and Civets of Cuc Phuong
The park is a stronghold for primates like the Hatinh Langur and civets such as the Masked Palm Civet, often seen at dawn or dusk.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Cuc Phuong Bird Migration Festival
- 2Endemic Reptile and Amphibian Night Walks
- 3Primates and Civets of Cuc Phuong
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Cuc Phuong National Park?
The most likely sightings are Scale-bellied Tree Lizard (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Common Indian Toad (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Fork-tailed Sunbird (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), White-bellied Yuhina (seen by about 50% of wildlife watchers), Oriental Whipsnake (seen by about 50% of wildlife watchers) — among 995 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Cuc Phuong National Park for wildlife?
October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Cuc Phuong Bent-toed Gecko in Cuc Phuong National Park?
It's possible but not guaranteed: about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cuc Phuong Bent-toed Gecko sighting in Cuc Phuong National Park, based on 1 verified sighting from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.
Can you see Fork-tailed Sunbird in Cuc Phuong National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Fork-tailed Sunbird sighting in Cuc Phuong National Park, based on 181 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Scale-bellied Tree Lizard in Cuc Phuong National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Scale-bellied Tree Lizard sighting in Cuc Phuong National Park, based on 57 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
