Thong at a training workshop on bat echolocation in Indonesia.

Below: Thong recording bat echolocation in the field.

Below: Thong with a mammal curator (Ms Callou) of the Paris Museum of Natural History, France.

Above: Hipposideros griffini (Griffin's leaf-nosed bat) is one of two new species and one subspecies of bat that Thong has described with colleagues (for details see 'Selected Publications' on this webpage [below]).

Dr Vu Dinh Thong

Mammalogist/Bat Specialist

Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay District
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: +84 43 8361 855
Fax: +84 43 8361 196
E-mail: thong@iebr.ac.vn , vudinhthong@hotmail.com

Education:

2011: Doctor of Science (PhD), Universität Tübingen, Lehrstuhl Tierphysiologie, Auf der Morgenstelle 28. D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.

2002: Master of Science (MSc), Hanoi University of Education, Vietnam.

1998: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Hanoi University of Education, Vietnam.

Awards:

2010: Alumni Award, the Conservation Leadership Programme, UK and USA

2009: Grassroots Grant, Bat Conservation International, USA

2006: Conservation Follow-up Award, the Conservation Leadership Programme, UK and USA

2006: Travel Award for attending the SCB2006 Conference in California, USA, awarded by the Conservation Leadership Programme, UK and USA

2005: Travel Award for attending the SCB2005 Conference in Brasilia, Brazil, awarded by the Conservation Leadership Programme, UK and USA

2001: Bronze Award, awarded by the Conservation Leadership Programme, UK and USA.

Research Interests:

• Taxonomy, echolocation and behaviour of bats in the Southeast Asian region and in China

• Diversity and conservation of mammals in Vietnam.

Current and Recent Research Activities:

2003–present: National Project Leader: “Study on the Bat Fauna of Vietnam”, funded by the Vietnam National Flora and Fauna Programme (VNFFP), Vietnam

2009: Team leader: Bat surveys at Phu Quoc and Cat Tien National Park, south Vietnam

2009: Team leader: Bat surveys at Vinh Cuu Historical and Natural Area, Dong Nai Province, south Vietnam

2009: Team leader: Bat surveys at Na Hang Nature Reserve and Ba Be National Park, northeast Vietnam

2009: Team leader: Bat survey at Cat Ba National Park, northeast Vietnam

2009: Team leader: Bats surveys at Hoang Lien Son, Xuan Son and Tam Dao National Parks, northern Vietnam, co-funded by Bat Conservation International (USA) and the Northeast Normal University (China)

2008: Team leader: Bat surveys at Con Dao and Cat Tien National Parks, south Vietnam

2008: Team leader: Bat survey at Cat Ba and Bai Tu Long National Parks, north Vietnam, funded by the University of Tuebingen (Germany) and VNFFP

2008: Team leader: Bat survey at Dakrong Nature Reserve, central Vietnam

2006: National project leader: “Up-to-date status of bats at Xuan Son national park, North-western Vietnam”, supported by the Vietnam National Programme for Basic Research in Natural Science

2005: National project leader: “Bat diversity of the key protected areas in South Vietnam”, supported by VNFFP

2004: National project leader: “Bat diversity of the key protected areas in Highland Plateau region of Vietnam”, supported by VNFFP

2004: Team leader: “The mammal fauna of Xuan Son National Park”, funded by VNFFP

2004: Team leader: “The bat fauna of South Vietnam”, funded by Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

2004: Team leader: “Flying Foxes in South Vietnam”, funded by Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

2004: Team member: “Small mammals and bats in Binh Dinh province”, funded by Binh Dinh People’s Committee, Vietnam

2003: Team leader: “Bats at Xuan Son National Park (1st phase)”, funded by VNFFP

2003: Team leader: “Bats at Pu Luong Nature Reserve and training the Reserve's rangers in field survey skills for bat studying”, funded by the Fauna and Flora International - Vietnam Programme

2003: Team member: “Assessment of the mammal status at Huong Thuy district”, Thua Thien-Hue province, funded by JIBIC, Japan

2001–2003: Team member: “Bat diversity in some National Parks and Nature Reserves in Vietnam” and “Diversity of Rodents in Vietnam”, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Vietnam

2003: National project leader: “Bat diversity of the key protected areas in Central Vietnam”, supported by VNFFP

2002: Co-leader of project: “Emergency surveys for the Eastern Black Crested Gibbon Nomascus sp.cf. nasutus in North-eastern Vietnam”, supported by US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA

2002: Team leader: “Field surveys on North-eastern Black Gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) in Bac Kan and Cao Bang provinces”, funded by US FWS, USA

2002: Team leader: “Bats at Kim Hy Proposed Nature Reserve, Bac Kan province and Me Linh area, Vinh Phuc province”, funded by MOST, Vietnam

2002: Team leader: “North-eastern Black Gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) in Bac Kan province”, supported by US FWS, USA

2002: Team member: “Training local rangers in Western Black Gibbon survey techniques and monitoring”, Yen Bai province, supported by US FWS, USA

2002: Team member: “Mammals at Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan province”, supported by MOST, Vietnam

2001: Project leader: “Thongbat2001” project, funded by the BP Conservation Programme, UK

2000: Team member: “Mammals at Ba Vi National Park, Ha Tay province”, supported by MOST, Vietnam

2000: Team member: “Bats at Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Lang Son province”, supported by Frontier-Vietnam, UK

1999–2000: Team member: “Biodiversity at Yen Thuy district, Hoa Binh province”, funded by MOST, Vietnam

1999: Team member: “Bats at Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, Nghe An province”, co-funded by IEBR Vietnam and the Frontier, UK

1998: Team member: “Bats at Ben En national Park, Thanh Hoa province”, funded by IEBR and Frontier-Vietnam, Vietnam and UK

1998: Team member: “Mammals at Lam Ha area, Lam Dong province”, supported by Hanoi University of Education, Vietnam

1997: Team member: “Mammals at Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong province”, funded by Hanoi University of Education, Vietnam

1995: Team member: “Mammals at Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc province”, supported by Hanoi University of Education, Vietnam.

Selected publications (papers in international peer-reviewed journals):

1. Thong, V.D., S.J. Puechmaille, A. Denzinger, P.J.J. Bates, C. Dietz, G. Csorba, P. Soisook, E.C. Teeling, S. Matsumura, N.M. Furey and H-U. Schnitzler. 2012. Systematics of the Hipposideros turpis complex and a description of a new subspecies from Vietnam. Mammal Review, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00202.x [PDF available]
   
   
2. Thong, V.D., S.J. Puechmaille, A. Denzinger, C. Dietz, G. Csorba, P.J.J. Bates, E.C. Teeling, and H-U. Schnitzler. 2012. A new species of Hipposideros (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) from Vietnam. Journal of Mammalogy, 93(1): 1-11. [PDF available]
   
   
3. Thong, V.D., C. Dietz, A. Denzinger, P.J.J. Bates, N.M. Furey, G. Csorba, G. Hoye, L.D. Thuy, and H.-U. Schnitzler. 2011. Further records of Murina tiensa from Vietnam with first Information on its echolocation calls. Hystrix – Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 22(1): 129-138.
   
   
4. Yu, W., and V.D. Thong. 2011. A new species of Rhinolophus from China. Zoological Science 28: 235-241
   
   
5. Saveng, I., P. Soisook, S. Bumrungsri, T. Kingston, S.J. Puechmaille, M.J. Struebig, S.S.H. Bu, V.D. Thong, N.M. Furey, N. Thomas, and P.J.J. Bates. 2011. A taxonomic review of Rhinolophus coelophyllus Peters 1876 and R. shameli Tate 1943 (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in continental Southeast Asia. Acta Chiropterologica, 13(1): 41-59
   
   
6. Furey, N.M., V.D. Thong, P.J.J. Bates, and G. Csorba. 2009. Description of a new species belonging to the Murina 'suilla-group' (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murininae) from North Vietnam. Acta Chiropterologica, 11(2): 225–236
   
   
7. Soisook, P., S. Bumrungsri, C. Satasook, V.D. Thong, S.S.H. Bu, D.L. Harrison, and P.J.J. Bates. 2008. A taxonomic review of Rhinolophus stheno and R. malayanus (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) from continental South-East Asia: an evaluation of echolocation call frequency in discriminating between cryptic species. Acta Chiropterologica, 10(2): 221–242
   
   
8. Thong, V.D., C. Dietz, H.-U. Schnitzler, A. Denzinger, N.M. Furey, A. Borissenko, and P.J.J. Bates. 2008. First record of Hipposideros khaokhouayensis from Vietnam. Journal of Sciences, Hanoi National University of Sciences: 23–28
   
   
9. Bates, P.J.J., M.J. Struebig, B.D. Hayes, N.M. Furey, K.M. Nya, V.D. Thong, P.D. Tien, N.T. Son, D.L. Harrison, C.M. Francis, and G. Csorba. 2007. A new species of Kerivoula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Southeast Asia. Acta Chiropterologica, 9(2): 323–337
   
   
10. Csorba, G., V.D. Thong, P.J.J. Bates, and N.M. Furey 2007. Description of a new species of Murina from Vietnam (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murininae). Museum of Texas Tech University; 268: 1–10
    
    
11. Thong, V.D., A. Denzinger, C. Dietz, H.-U. Schnitzler, and P.J.J. Bates. 2007. Intra- and Interspecific variation in morphology and echolocation in Hipposideros larvatus species complex in Vietnam. Bat Research News, 48(3): 128
    
    
12. Thong, V.D., S. Bumrungsri, D.L. Harrison, M. Pearch, K.M. Helgen, and P.J.J. Bates. 2006. New records of Microchiroptera (Rhinolophidae and Kerivoulinae) from Vietnam and Thailand. Acta Chiropterologica, 8(1): 83–93
    
    
13. Geissmann, T., L.Q. Trung, T.D. Hoang, V.D. Thong, D.N. Can, and P.D. Tien. 2003. Rarest Ape Species Rediscovered in Vietnam. Asian Primates, 8(3): 8–10

Papers in Vietnamese peer-reviewed journals (in Vietnamese with English abstracts):

1. Thong, V.D., N.T. Son, D.N. Loi, P.D. Tien. 2010. An overview of bat research in Bai Tu Long and Con Dao National Parks, with results from recent surveys. Vietnamese Journal of Biotechnology, 8(3A): 999–1005
   
   
2. Son, N.T., V.D. Thong, N.X. Dang, G. Csorba. 2010. Conservation status and distribution ranges of some horseshoe and leaf-nosed bat species in Vietnam. Vietnamese Journal of Biotechnology, 8(3A): 981–990
   
   
3. Thong, V.D., N.T. Son, P.D. Tien, T.H. Hai, P.V. Nha. 2010. Current Status of Bats at Muong Do Area, Phu Yen District, Son la Province. Proceedings of the 3rd National Scientific Conference on Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi: 818–822
   
   
4. Son, N.T., D. H. Phuong, T.V. Cuong, V. D. Thong, and G. Csorba. 2009. Study Results on bats and Rodents of Vinh Cuu Historical and Nature Reserve, Dong Nai Province: Proceedings of the 3rd National Scientific Conference on Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi: 776 – 783
   
   
5. Son, N.T., V.D. Thong, P.D. Tien, N.V. Khoi. 2009. Status of Flying Foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Vietnam. Vietnamese Journal of Biology, 31(3): 52-57
   
   
6. Thong, V.D., and N.M. Furey. 2008. The bat fauna of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve. Journal of Biology, 30(3): 73-77
   
   
7. Thong, V.D., V.T. Tu, P.D. Tien, C-W. Chu, J. Senawi, P. Bates, and N. Furey. 2007.
   Echolocation call frequency of Marshall's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus marshalli from Cat Ba National Park and its current status in Vietnam. Proceedings of the 2nd National Scientific Conference on Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi: 274–277
   
   
8. Tien, P.D., V.D. Thong, L.V. Khoi, T.T. Loan, N.T. Hien, H.V. Cu. 2007. The known bat species of Yok Don National Park and current status of Tail-less fruit bat Megaerops niphanae in Vietnam. Proceedings of National Conference in Life Science. Science and Technique Publishing House: 199–201
   
   
9. La, T.V., N.V. Sang, P.D. Tien, T.V. Cuong, and V.D. Thong. 2007. Diversity of vertebrates (Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, and Reptiles) in the Tam Tao mountain region, Cho Don district, Bac Kan province. Proceedings of National Conference in Life Science. Science and Technique Publishing House: 85-88
   
   
10. Khoi, L.V., N.X. Hung, V.D. Thong, N.M. Furey. 2007. Diversity of bats in Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan province. Proceedings of National Conference in Life Science. Science and Technique Publishing House: 73-76
    
    
11. Thong, V.D., D.H. Huynh, and L.V. Khoi. 2005. Two bat species new to Vietnam. Journal of Biology, 27(4): 7-10
    
    
12. Huynh, D.H., and V.D. Thong. 2005. Diversity of the mammal fauna of Binh Dinh province. Journal of Biology, 27(4A): 1-10
    
    
13. Khoi, L.V., and V.D. Thong. 2005. Checklist of the bat species recorded from Vietnam. Journal of Biology, 27(4A): 51-59
    
    
14. Thong, V.D., L.V. Khoi, P.D. Tien. 2005. Status of bats of Chu Mom Ray National Park, Central Vietnam. Proceedings of National Conference in Life Science. Science and Technique Publishing House: 305-308
    
    
15. Thong, V.D. 2005. Distribution of Bats at Bach Ma National Park. Proceedings of the first National Workshop on Ecology and Biological Resources, Agriculture Publishing House: 473-479 (2005)
    
    
16. Tien, P.D., V.D. Thong, and L.V. Khoi. 2005. Current Status of the Bat Fauna of Xuan Son National Park and surroundings. Proceedings of the Vietnam national conference in basic studies on life-sciences. Science and Technic Publishing House (Hanoi): 320-323
    
    
17. Thong, V.D., P.D. Tien, L.V. Khoi, and H.T. Thanh. 2005. Bat Diversity at Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve and Chu Mom Ray National Parks. Proceedings of the Vietnam national conference in basic studies on life-sciences. Science and Technic Publishing House (Hanoi): 305-308
    
    
18. Son, N.T., and V.D. Thong. 2005. Bat Diversity at Ba Be National Park and Na Hang Nature Reserve. Proceedings of the Vietnam national conference in basic studies on life-sciences. Science and Technic Publishing House (Hanoi): 272-275
    
    
19. Can, D.N., and V.D. Thong. 2004. Up-to-date status of precious mammal species at Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Proceedings of National Conference in Natural Science. Science and Technique Publishing House: 55-58
    
    
20. Thong, V.D., and T.H. Viet. 2004. Key to the bats species recorded at Pu Hoat Nature Reserve and Bach Ma National Park. Journal of Science, Series in Natural Sciences, Hanoi University of Education: 127-130
    
    
21. Thong, V.D., T.H. Viet, P. D. Tien, and N. M. Furey. 2004. Bats of Vietnam and their Vietnamese names. Journal of Science, Series in Natural Sciences, Hanoi University of Education: 120-126
    
    
22. Son, N.T., and V.D. Thong. 2004. Results of a field survey on bats at Ba Be National Park and Na Hang Nature Reserve. Journalof Biology, 26(4): 25-30
    
    
23. Thong, V.D. 2004. New Data on Three Flying Foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Vietnam. Journal of Biology, 26(3): 18-28
    
    
24. Thong, V.D., and P.D. Tien. 2003. The bat species recorded at Huong Son National Park, Ha Tinh province. Journal of Science, Series in Natural Sciences, Hanoi University of Education: 68-75
    
    
25. Thong, V.D. 2002. Results of the bat researching at Pu Hoat Nature Reserve. Journal of Biology, 24(2): 15-21
    
    
26. Thong, V.D. 2001. Bats of Bach Ma National Park: species composition, distribution, habitats, influential factors and conservation strategies. Final report of Thongbat2001 project, submitted to the BP Conservation Programme: 57 pp
    
    
27. Thong, V.D., P.D. Tien, and C.V. Sung. 2001. Mountain Fruit bat (Sphaerias blanfordi) first recorded in Vietnam. Journal of Biology, 23(1): 17-30
    
    
28. Sung, C.V., P.D. Tien, and V.D. Thong. 2001. Results of the bat surveys in Southern provinces, Vietnam. IEBR’s Proceedings 1995-2000. Hanoi Publisher of Agriculture: 356-362

Abstracts in international conference proceedings:

1. Thong, V.D., A. Denzinger, P.J.J. Bates, C. Dietz, S.J. Puechmaille, G. Csorba, P. Soisook, S. Matsumura, W. Yi, N.M. Furey, E.M. Teeling, P.A. Racey, and H.-U. Schnitzler. 2011. Systematics and echolocation of rhinolophoid bats in Vietnam. Book of abstracts, the 2nd International South-East Asian Bat Conference, Bogor, Indonesia, 6-9 June 2011: 42
   
   
2. Thong, V. D., C. Dietz, A. Denzinger, P.J.J. Bates, and H.-U. Schnitzler. 2009. Rhinolophoid Bats of Vietnam: Taxonomy, Echolocation, and Conservation (Megadermatidae, Rhinolophidae, and Hipposideridae). Book of Abstracts, the XXIII Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2009), Beijing, China
   
   
3. Tien, P.D., H.-U. Schnitzler, A. Denzinger, P.J.J. Bates, N.M. Furey, and V.D. Thong. 2009. The bat fauna of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, North Vietnam. Book of Abstracts, the XXIII Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2009), Beijing, China
   
   
4. Thong, V.D. Identification of Areas with Priority for Bat Conservation in Vietnam. Book of Abstracts, the XX Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2006), San Jose McHenry Convention Center, San Jose, California, USA, 24th–28th June, 2006: 202
   
   
5. Thong, V.D. Status of Bats in Vietnam. Abstracts of the Plenary, Symposium, Poster and Oral papers presented at the IX International Mammalogical Congress (IMC9), Hokkaido, Japan, July 31st – August 5th, 2005: 350
   
   
6. Thong, V.D. Bat Conservation in Vietnam (Review). Book of Abstracts, the XIX Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2005), Brasilia, Brazil, 15th–19th July, 2005: 207.

Book:

1. Huynh, D.H., H.M. Khien, N.X. Dang, L.X. Canh, V.D. Thong, D.H. Phuong. 2008. Wild Mammals of Vietnam. Scientific and Technological Publishing House, Hanoi: 235 pp.


International Conferences (participated):

Brazil
2005: The XIX International Conference on Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2005), Brasilia (Poster presentation giving)

China
2009: The XXIII International Conference on Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2009), Beijing (Oral presentation giving)

Germany
2011: Germany National Bat Conference, Hannover (Oral presentation giving)

Indonesia
2011: The 2nd International Southeast Bat Conference, Bogor (Oral presentation giving)

Japan
2005: The IX International Mammalogical Conference and field excursion on bats, Hokkaido, Japan (Poster presentation giving)

Thailand
2007: The 1st SE Asian Bat Conference. 7-11 May, 2007. Phuket, Thailand. (Poster presentation giving)

United Kingdom
2005: International Conferences: “Systematics and Biodiversity”, London and Cardiff

USA
2006: The XX International Conference on Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology (SCB2006), San Jose McHenry Convention Center, San Jose, California (Poster presentation giving).


International Workshops and Training (participated):

Cambodia
2009: Workshop on ‘Increasing in-country capacity and regional co-operation to promote bat conservation in Cambodia, with particular reference to Otomops wroughtoni’. 26-27 April, 2009. Royal University of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Indonesia
2006: Workshop on "Distribution, Ecology and Conservation Status of Large Mammals and Bats of South-East Asia", co-hosted by Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Istituto di Ecologia Applicata, and The World Conservation Union, Bogor Botanical Garden, Bogor

Laos
2010: Ten-day course in Biostatistics in Vientiane, organised by the Conservation Leadership Programme, UK and USA

2005: Training course: “Bat echolocation", Lao PDR, co-hosted by Harrison Institute and Aberdeen University, UK

Thailand
2006: Training workshops and field surveys on bat taxonomy and echolocation in Thailand, co-hosted by Harrison Institute, UK and the Prince of Songkla University

United Kingdom
2005: Three-month course in Bat Taxonomy, Harrison Institute, Centre for Systematics and Biodiversity, England

2001: Four-week training workshop in skills for biodiversity surveys and conservation, organised by the Conservation Leadership Programme, London, England.

Vietnam
2006: Workshop on ‘Field techniques for bat research’. 8-14 August, 2006. Hanoi and Cat Ba Island, Vietnam