News Brief (E248, 17 January, 2008)

Top News

Wildlife confiscated from the illegal trade
On January 10, Hanoi Environmental Police working in cooperation with the local Forest Protection Department inspected a restaurant in Hanoi and discovered 13 brush-tailed porcupines, 4 civets, and 1 wild cat being kept there illegally. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Nha_hang_Nam_Hai_dung_DVHD_lam_moi_nhau.html

On January 10, 15 civets and two deer which were being kept illegally were confiscated by local authorities in Binh Dinh province. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Binh_Dinh_Phat_hien-vu_cat_giu_DVHD_trai_phep.pdf

At midnight on January 10, Thanh Hoa traffic police uncovered two cases involving the illegal transportation of wildlife, and confiscated a total of 150kg of pangolins. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Thanh_Hoa_van_chuyen_150kg_tete.pdf

Recently, Tan Son Nhat Customs officers confiscated 18kg of rhinoceros horn being illegally imported to Vietnam. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Phat_hien_gan_18kg_sung_te_giac_nhap_lau.pdf

On January 15, Tuy Duc district police decided to bring to court a recent case involving the trade of one langur and two gibbons in Dak Nong. (Vietnamese version)   
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Dak_Nong_Bat_tam_giam_mot_doi_tuong_mua_ban_linh_truong.pdf

Hanoi zoo auctioned dead tigers
This week, the management of Hanoi zoo admitted that it auctioned dead tigers to animal trafficking gangs. The revelation came after police raided the car and house of a gang in Ha Tay city last week, confiscating two live tigers, four dead ones and seven live bears.
(English version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Vietnam_zoo_auctioned_dead_tigers.html  
(Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Vuon_thu_Ha_Noi_thua_nhan_ban_ho_nau_cao.pdf

Reinforcing the control of animal trade
Recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a correspondence 62/BNN-TY requiring local authorities to implement stricter measures to control animal trade across Vietnam’s borders. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Tang_cuong_kiem_soat_buon_ban_DVHD_qua_bien_gioi.pdf

Wild animals crying in city
A reporter recently covered a story that follows a wildlife consumer to a number of restaurants serving wildlife dishes in Hanoi. Most of these establishments operate under the guise of specializing in traditional wine, or have names that remind consumers of wild animals. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Thu_rung_khoc_than_o_pho.html

Mekong giant catfish in need of protection
Major changes occurring in the Mekong River are narrowing the available habitat of endemic giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas). In addition, overexploitation is also threatening the survival of this species, which is internationally protected and is also the largest freshwater fish. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_248/Phai_cuu_ca_tra_khong_lo_cua_song_Mekong.pdf   

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