Press Release

New Green Forest Magazine: Vietnam’s Wild Cats

March 1, 2005

Vietnam is home to eight of the world’s 36 species of wild cats. Most notable amongst our native species is the Indochinese tiger, once distributed throughout Vietnam. However, Vietnam’s tigers and other wild cats are threatened by the combined impacts of illegal hunting and trade, and loss of habitat. According to scientists, there may be fewer than 150 Indochinese tigers left in Vietnam. Larger cat species such as the tiger and leopard may also be threatened indirectly by the loss of their prey base as deer and other larger prey species are hunted to exhaustion.

Education for Nature – Vietnam has been working for more than four years to address hunting and wildlife trade issues through efforts to increase awareness and promote conservation of Vietnam’s endangered wildlife.

In February, ENV has released Green Forest issue No. 21 entitled "Vietnam's Wild Cats". This newest edition of the popular student activity book focuses on the ecology, conservation, and protection of Vietnam’s cats. Through activities, games, cartoons, and stories, students will have the opportunity to learn about the critical threats to tigers, as well as other interesting information about some of Vietnam’s other native cat species. Green Forest also serves as a forum through which students can exchange their ideas and contribute to efforts to raise awareness amongst their peers about the need to protect nature and the environment.

Green Forest is distributed free to participating community-based environmental education programs throughout Vietnam. The next issue of Green Forest will be released in September 2005 and focus on the urban environment (deadline for contributions is July 31st, 2005).

ENV wishes to thank Arbeitgemeinschaft Regenwald und Artenschutz (ARA), FFI - Pu Luong Cuc Phuong Limestone Landscape Conservation Project, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (USA), and the WWF - Cat Tien National Park Conservation Project for supporting this important educational resource.

About ENV
Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) was established in 2001 as Vietnam’s first environmental education-focused NGO, built upon the success and experience of the community-based Conservation Awareness Program at Cuc Phuong National Park. ENV specializes in training environmental educators, and carries out a variety of educational programs and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and understanding about the environment, and the need to protect nature and wildlife in Vietnam.

For more information about Green Forest, please contact:

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Dung
Communications Officer
Education for Nature - Vietnam
Tel: (84-4)7753685
Email: communication.env@fpt.vn
Visit our website:
www.envietnam.org (English)
www.thiennhien.org (Vietnamese language)