- To determine a distribution area of population of Truong son Rock Rat Laonestes aenigmamus in limestone landscape in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province
- To identify ecological requirement for survival and development of Truong Son Rock Rat and develop the measures for the species conservation in study area

- Theoretical results:
1) Determining a distribution area of Truong Son Rock Rat of about 10,000 ha large belonging to territory of Thuong Hoa, Hoa Son, Trung Hoa and Dan Hoa Comunes in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province. Major part of the distribution area is located in buffer zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
2) Identifying statistically significant differentiation in body and skull morphometric features and DNA sequences between Truong Son Rock Rat population in Phong Nha -Ke Bang and those in Khammuoane Province (Laos). The population in Phong Nha - Ke Bang may present a new species different from the species found in Khammuane Province (Laos).
3) Detailed description of features of living sites of Truong Son Rock Rat in natural karst crevices and caves on limestone slopes of low mountains (250-500 m above sea level) under primary or nearly primary tropical limestone forest with dense ground layer. Truong Son Rock Rat is nocturnal animal, sleeping in rock crevices in daytime and goes out for feeding in darkness. Its breeding season lasts for several months and each litter consists of 1-2 newborns.
4) Identifying specialized habitat of Truong Son Rock Rat as 2 types of primary or litte-affected forest: Dense evergreen broadleaf forest on low karst mountains (elevations from 300 - 700 m above sea level) and Dense evergreen broadleaf lowland forest in karst mountain valleys (elevations from 250 - 450 m above sea level). Of which, Dense evergreen broadleaf forest on low karst mountains is the most important habitat. Some quantitative features of Truong Son Rock Rat habitat are provided. Truong Son Rock Rat eats mainly leaves, fruits, seeds and roots of many plant species (29 food plant species are identified) and small portion of insects
5) It is identified that the most harmful threats to Truong Son Rock Rat population were "illegal wildlife hunting/trapping" and forest clearing for agricultivation in valley close to karst mountains. The indirect threats are poverty of local ethnic tribes (Ruc, Sach, Khua,...) and impacts of wildlife trade in the area.
- Applied results:
Six key conservation measures are developed including 1) Establishment of "Truong Son Rock Rat Species and Habitat Conservation Area" in the current species distribution area, 2) Enlisting Truong Son Rock Rat into Vietnam Red Data Book and Governmental wildlife conservation legal documents, 3) Development of livelihood for communities living in and around current distribution area of Truong Son Rock Rat, 4) Developing captive breeding population of Truong Son Rock Rat in semi-wild environment, 5) Application of monitoring programme for Truong Son Rock Rat population in Phong Nha - Ke Bang area and 6) Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park should apply urgent conservation activities such as conservation awarness raising education for local community, strengthening forest patrolling for snare removal from the Truong Son Rock Rat habitats, etc.

This is the first project of the most comprehensive research on biological features and ecological requirement of the recently discovered species (in 2005 in Laos and 2012 in Vietnam. The Project provides the most comprehensive and updated  data/  information of population of  Truong Son Rock Rat in Phong  Nha -Ke Bang. For the first time, the distribution area and important ecological requirements of Truong Son Rock Rat population in Phong Nha - Ke Bang area were identified and appropriate conservation measures were developed based on sound scientific data.

- Scientific papers in referred journals (list):
1) Dang Xuan Nguyen , Nghia Xuan Nguyen , Duy Dinh Nguyen , Tri Huy Dinh , Dinh Thuc Le , Duong Hai Dinh (2014). Distribution and habitat of the Laotian
Rock Rat Laonastes aenigmamus Jenkins, Kilpatrick, Robinson & Timmins, 2005 (Rodentia: Diatomyidae) in Vietnam. Biodiversity Data Journal 2: e4188. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4188
2) Nguyen Xuan Dang, Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Nguyen Dinh Duy (2015). Habitat characteristics and food items of Truong Son Rock Rat Laonastes aenigmamnus in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province. In: Proceeding of National Scientific Conference on Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi 21 October 2015, Publ. house "Agriculture", 1335-1341. [Đặc điểm sinh cảnh và thành phần thức ăn của Chuột đá trường sơn (Laonastes aenigmamnus) tại huyện Minh Hóa, tỉnh Quảng Bình. Tuyển tập "Báo cáo khoa học về Sinh thái và Tài nguyên sinh vật - Hội nghị khoa học toàn quốc lần thứ 6, Hà Nội 21/10/2015, Nxb. Nông nghiệp], In Vietnamese with English summary.
- Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place):
1) Map of distribution area of Truong Son Rock Rat Laonastes aenigmanus in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province, Scale 1/100.000. Hard copy and CD file are deposited at Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources
2) Specimens of Truong Son Rock Rat (one male and 2 females) collected from Phong Nha - Ke Bang area and deposited in Dept. Zoological Collection of Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and its buffer zone, Quang Binh Province

Futher study needs to clarify taxonomic status of Truong Son Rock Rat in Phong Nha -Ke Bang, it is suggested a new species for science.