The crocs of Cat Tien

      Some of the world's most endangered species live in the tropical forests of Cat Tien, the southland’s largest National Park.
Just two and a half hours from Ho Chi Minh City, Crocodile Lake lies nestled in the jungles of Cat Tien National Park, a treasure trove of biodiversity. In the middle of the thick Dong Nai Province forest, the oasis comes up rather unexpectedly. The crocs are abundant at the lake, but not easy to spot as they shy away from humans.
White-necked cranes, pheasants, and Indian storks also make their homes around the lake.
Other than a few tourists that come for jeep rides, hiking or “night safaris,” the only visitors here are conservationists, scientists, researchers and bird watchers who observe some of the park’s rarer species of flora and fauna.
The lake, known as Bau Sau in Vietnamese, has been designated by government authorities as a sanctuary for endangered freshwater Siamese crocodiles.
It is home to more than 60 crocodiles now.
Photographers love the spot for both the animals and the surrounding greenery.
Night hikes around the lake are particularly exciting.
The rare Gaur, a large herd animal, can often be seen here at night. Guars are relatively easy to see in Cat Tien compared to other areas. Herds of 15 or more are a fairly common sight at Bau Sau as the animals come to the lakeside to graze.
The largely nocturnal and endangered Sambar deer can also be seen drinking from the lake at dusk.
Bau Sau is one of the more than 1,800 sites in the Ramson List of Wetlands of International Importance due to its spectacular geology and biodiversity.