Cuc Phuong National Park

🇻🇳 Vietnam

🦎 Scale-bellied Tree Lizard Sanctuary

🌍 #225 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #13 in Southeast Asia #101 in Tropical Forest

Southeast Asia, Vietnam 995 spp. recorded

Cuc 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

🦎 No photo available

Cyrtodactylus cucphuongensis

Insufficient data

Fork-tailed Sunbird

Aethopyga christinae

50–60% · Likely

Scale-bellied Tree Lizard

Acanthosaura lepidogaster

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Indian Toad

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

70–80% · Very likely

White-bellied Yuhina

Erpornis zantholeuca

50–60% · Likely

Oriental Whipsnake

Ahaetulla prasina

50–60% · Likely

Japanese Thrush

Turdus cardis

50–60% · Likely

Rufous-throated Fulvetta

Alcippe rufogularis

50–60% · Likely

Emma Gray's Forest Lizard

Calotes emma

50–60% · Likely

Puff-throated Bulbul

Alophoixus pallidus

50–60% · Likely

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

40–50% · Likely

Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

40–50% · Likely

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

40–50% · Likely

Green-eared Barbet

Psilopogon faiostrictus

40–50% · Likely

North China Green Snake

Ptyas multicincta

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Perny's Long-nosed Squirrel

Dremomys pernyi

30–40% · Possible

Maritime Striped Squirrel

Tamiops maritimus

30–40% · Possible

Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel

Belomys pearsonii

30–40% · Possible

Northern Treeshrew

Tupaia belangeri

30–40% · Possible

Exotic Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros gentilis

20–30% · Possible

Pallas's Squirrel

Callosciurus erythraeus

Insufficient data

🐒 No photo available

Niviventer mekongis

Insufficient data

Inornate Squirrel

Callosciurus inornatus

Insufficient data

Greater Long-tongued Fruit Bat

Macroglossus sobrinus

Insufficient data

intermediate roundleaf bat

Hipposideros larvatus

Insufficient data

Masked Palm Civet

Paguma larvata

Insufficient data

Ha Long Roundleaf Bat

Hipposideros alongensis

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Fork-tailed Sunbird

Aethopyga christinae

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

White-bellied Yuhina

Erpornis zantholeuca

50–60% · Likely

Japanese Thrush

Turdus cardis

50–60% · Likely

Rufous-throated Fulvetta

Alcippe rufogularis

50–60% · Likely

Puff-throated Bulbul

Alophoixus pallidus

50–60% · Likely

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

40–50% · Likely

Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

40–50% · Likely

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

40–50% · Likely

Green-eared Barbet

Psilopogon faiostrictus

40–50% · Likely

Red-vented Barbet

Psilopogon lagrandieri

40–50% · Likely

Great Iora

Aegithina lafresnayei

40–50% · Likely

Puff-throated Babbler

Pellorneum ruficeps

40–50% · Likely

Dark-necked Tailorbird

Orthotomus atrogularis

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

🦎 No photo available

Cyrtodactylus cucphuongensis

Insufficient data

Scale-bellied Tree Lizard

Acanthosaura lepidogaster

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Oriental Whipsnake

Ahaetulla prasina

50–60% · Likely

Emma Gray's Forest Lizard

Calotes emma

50–60% · Likely

North China Green Snake

Ptyas multicincta

40–50% · Likely

Formosa Slug Snake

Pareas formosensis

40–50% · Likely

Taiwanese Habu

Protobothrops mucrosquamatus

40–50% · Possible

Chinese Green Tree Viper

Trimeresurus stejnegeri

30–40% · Possible

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

30–40% · Possible

Palm Gecko

Gekko palmatus

30–40% · Possible

Guangxi cat snake

Boiga guangxiensis

30–40% · Possible

Common Mock Viper

Psammodynastes pulverulentus

30–40% · Possible

Tawny Cat Snake

Boiga multomaculata

30–40% · Possible

Chinese Kukri Snake

Oligodon chinensis

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Indian Toad

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

70–80% · Very likely

Orlov's Treefrog

Rhacophorus orlovi

30–40% · Possible

Chinese Flying Frog

Zhangixalus dennysi

30–40% · Possible

Arcuate-spotted Pygmy Frog

Microhyla heymonsi

30–40% · Possible

Dotted Bubble-nest Frog

Theloderma albopunctatum

30–40% · Possible

🐸 No photo available

Leptobrachium guangxiense

30–40% · Possible

Spot-legged Tree Frog

Polypedates megacephalus

30–40% · Possible

Vietnamese Mossy Frog

Theloderma corticale

20–30% · Possible

Rana johnsi

Insufficient data

Bony-headed Toad

Ingerophrynus galeatus

Insufficient data

Beautiful Pygmy Frog

Microhyla pulchra

Insufficient data

Asian Painted Frog

Kaloula pulchra

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦎

Endemic Reptile and Amphibian Night Walks

MarAprMayJul

The park’s dense forests host high densities of reptiles and amphibians, including the Scale-bellied Tree Lizard and Chinese Flying Frog.

Scale-bellied Tree Lizard

Acanthosaura lepidogaster

70–80% · Very likely

Vietnamese Mossy Frog

Theloderma corticale

20–30% · Possible

Chinese Flying Frog

Zhangixalus dennysi

30–40% · Possible

🐦

Cuc Phuong Bird Migration Festival

OctNov

Thousands of migratory birds, including Japanese Thrush and Rufous-tailed Robin, pass through the park during autumn migration.

Japanese Thrush

Turdus cardis

50–60% · Likely

Stripe-throated Bulbul

Pycnonotus finlaysoni

20–30% · Possible

Rufous-tailed Robin

Larvivora sibilans

30–40% · Possible

🦌

Primates and Civets of Cuc Phuong

FebAprMayOct

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.

Rhesus Macaque

Macaca mulatta

Insufficient data

Masked Palm Civet

Paguma larvata

Insufficient data

Hatinh Langur

Trachypithecus hatinhensis

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

Cuc Phuong Bent-toed Gecko

<5

0–10

<5

<5

<5

40–50

<5

<5

0–10

<5

<5

<5

Fork-tailed Sunbird

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

50–60

30–40

50–60

60–70

40–50

70–80

Scale-bellied Tree Lizard

30–40

30–40

80–90

60–70

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

40–50

30–40

50–60

Common Indian Toad

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

40–50

50–60

White-bellied Yuhina

60–70

70–80

40–50

30–40

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

80–90

40–50

50–60

Oriental Whipsnake

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

20–30

10–20

70–80

30–40

60–70

40–50

60–70

Japanese Thrush

70–80

70–80

60–70

10–20

30–40

30–40

40–50

20–30

40–50

10–20

50–60

60–70

Rufous-throated Fulvetta

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

30–40

40–50

50–60

30–40

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

Emma Gray's Forest Lizard

50–60

60–70

10–20

40–50

30–40

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

Puff-throated Bulbul

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

60–70

40–50

60–70

40–50

70–80

50–60

50–60

Yellow-browed Warbler

60–70

50–60

40–50

20–30

30–40

30–40

40–50

20–30

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher

60–70

50–60

30–40

10–20

30–40

30–40

50–60

20–30

40–50

70–80

70–80

50–60

Common Tailorbird

50–60

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

30–40

60–70

50–60

40–50

Green-eared Barbet

30–40

30–40

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

30–40

10–20

30–40

30–40

North China Green Snake

10–20

20–30

30–40

60–70

70–80

50–60

30–40

10–20

60–70

40–50

10–20

20–30

Animal Events

🦎 Endemic Reptile and Amphibian Night Walks

🐦 Cuc Phuong Bird Migration Festival

🦌 Primates and Civets of Cuc Phuong

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🦎 Scale-bellied Tree Lizard Sanctuary

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

605

🐒 Mammals

176

🦎 Reptiles

154

🐸 Amphibians

60

995 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

68 Threatened 2 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

55%

📊

Coverage (201 species at ≥5% of 995 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

20%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 3 reptile, 1 amphibian)

47% Global avg

65%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

106

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

3

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

19

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