VietNamNet Bridge – The most valuable asset of Ngo Van Tri of the Tropical Biology Institute is his collection of more than 300 lizards of many different species, seven of which he himself discovered and published to the world.

Ngo Van Tri and his lizards

Showing a lizard with two scratches on its sides, Tri said that he had had to creep into a deep cave to catch it. As the stone was slippery, he fell. Tri dropped his US$1000 camera, but he didn’t let go of the lizard. Tri regrets that the lizard suffered the scratches during the fall.

Spending own money on scientific researches

Tri related that it is a hard road to publish the existence of a new lizard to the world. Lizards often live deep in remote forests. He has to find a lizard first, and then catch it, take pictures of it, learn about its characteristics and compare it to other lizards before concluding that it is a new species.

“International journals always set high requirements on scientific discoveries. You have to go through at least three experienced experts to ensure the authenticity of the discovery. Moreover, they also ask you to follow strict regulations on intellectual property and the right to make information public,” Tri said.

Tri has had to spend his own money on everything, from his trips to the forest to find lizards, to the filing for publishing his discoveries, and the publishing itself.

However, Tri said that what makes him happy is not the published articles, but the discovery of new lizard species. He said that he has to go to the forest every weekend; if not, he feels sluggish and does not want to do anything.

A natural affinity for lizards

Tri was born and raised in the central city of Da Nang. Tri decided to stay at home to tend oxen after he finished high school. Two years later, a friend of his persuaded him to register for the entrance exams to the Biology Faculty of Hue city University. After graduating from the university, Tri worked for the Fauna and Flora International Indochina Programme FFI.

On a field trip one day, Tri unintentionally caught a strange lizard and the idea of learning more about lizards flashed into his mind. Tri decided to give up his job, which brought him nearly $1,000 a month - the dream of many people -, to work for the Tropical Biology Institute and devote himself to researching reptiles.

His state salary is not big enough for him to purchase a house for him and his family. Tri and his wife and daughter still live in a leased house in the suburbs of Hanoi.

Tri has experienced a lot of difficulties in his pursuit of lizards. He has suffered 10 malarial attacks, been hospitalised 3 times, and once nearly went over a water fall. However, right after recovering, he goes right back out into the forest to look for lizards.

Otherwise, what would he do?

(Source: NLD)