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Site description (2002 baseline)
This IBA concerns the Ke Bang limestone area, bordered by Laos to the south-west and Phong Nha Nature Reserve to the east. Ke Bang is situated in one of the largest areas of contiguous limestone karst in Indochina, which also includes Hin Namno National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos, and Phong Nha Nature Reserve in Bo Trach district, Vietnam. The topography of Ke Bang is composed of narrow valleys and precipitous karst ridges. The dominant habitat type at Ke Bang is limestone forest. The nature of the terrain has largelt restricted human encroachment into limestone areas. Ke Bang is significant for its populations of two endemic primates, Hatinh Langur Trachypithecus francoisi hatinhensis and Wulsin's Black Langur T. f. ebenus.

Key biodiversity
On the basis of the occurrence of three restricted-range bird species, Ke Bang lies within the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata was recorded by Timmins et al. (1999) by its vocalisations. A single bird was heard on 18 October 1998 to the south of Suoi Cat valley. Two different birds were heard from the Ta Ty area (from B. Cha Lo) on 25 October 1998. Two birds were heard from forest in the Suoi Ken area west of the road south of B. Cha Lo, on 27 October and a single bird was heard in the same area on 28 October.VRTC (1999) recorded one Crested Argus by its vocalisations on a slope of the Yen Hop River valley near Yen Hop village on 19 March 1999.

Non-bird biodiversity: Timmins et al.(1999) recorded the following globally threatened primate species at Ke Bang: Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides, Hatinh Langur Trachypithecus francoisi hatinhensis, Wulsin's Black Langur T. f. ebenus and White/Buff-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys/gabrielle. However, Timmins et al. advise caution regarding the exact status and taxonomic identity of Wulsin's Black Langur. The globally endangered Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus has been recorded by several authors, although the faliure of Timmins et al. to record this species led them to conclude that there may have been a major decline in the species at the site.Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis has been recorded at Ke Bang in two recent studies: Timmins et al. (1999, provisional record) and VRTC (1999).

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ke Bang (Vietnam). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ke-bang-iba-vietnam on 22/11/2024.