News Brief (E260, 18 April, 2008)

Top News

Discovery of Nearly Extinct Giant Turtle in Northern Vietnam
On April 16, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announced the discovery of a critically endangered turtle in northern Vietnam, previously thought to be extinct in the wild. Experts from the Zoo’s Asian Turtle Program confirmed that they have identified the only known living specimen of a Swinhoe’s soft-shell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) in nature.
(English version)
http://www.thiennhien.org/E_News/E_260/Cleveland_Metroparks_Zoo_Announces_Discovery_of_Nearly
_Extinct_Giant_Turtle_in_Northern_Vietnam.html

Yok Don: Large volume of illegal timber confiscated
Mr Ngo Tien Dung, manager of Yok Don National Park, has stated that approximately 50m3 of “huong” timber (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) (in group 2A) has been logged in area. More than 40m3 of the timber was confiscated by rangers after discovering illegal logging operations.
(Vietnamese version)
http://www.thiennhien.org/E_News/E_260/Phat_hien_so_luong_go_lon_trai_phep_trong_vuon_quoc_gia
_Yok_Don.pdf
 
Kon Tum: Burning of medical waste threatening local people’s health
On April 11, approximately 100 people gathered in front of Kon Tum Forest Protection Department to complain about the smoke being released from Kon Tum hospital. The smoke plume, which can reach up to 30m in height, results from the burning of medical waste and is known to contain several hazardous substances. It is carried over a large distance by the wind and this is threatening human health across the area.
(Vietnamese version)
http://www.thiennhien.org/E_News/E_260/Dot_rac_thai_y_te_gay_o_nhiem_moi_truong_tram_trong.pdf

Wildlife trade confiscated in Ha Tinh
Authorities in Ha Tinh province have discovered several large wildlife trade cases from Laos to Vietnam. Police confiscated 18 Monitor lizards (Varanus sp.)weighing 33.5kg in total, and 14Turtles, which were subsequentlytransferred to Ha Tinh FPD.
(Vietnamese version)
http://www.thiennhien.org/E_News/E_260/Buon_ban_dong_vat_hoang_da.html

Bac Kan affected by arsenic pollution
Large concentrations of arsenic have been found in rivers and streams in Bac Kan. The main reasons for this pollution include the lack of environmental precautions taken by surrounding companies, the use of unregistered fertilizers and mineral exploitation.
(Vietnamese versions)
http://www.thiennhien.org/E_News/E_260/Bac_Kan_Doi_mat_voi_nguon_nuoc_nhiem_arsenic.html

Illegal logging major concern for Yok Don National Park
Since early 2008, there have been approximately 350 cases of illegal deforestation in Yok Don National Park. According to the Forest Protection Department, hundreds of people flock to the forest every day to hunt wildlife and log valuable timber.
(Vietnamese versions)
http://www.thiennhien.org/E_News/E_260/Vuon_quoc_gia_Yok_Don_lam_tac_tung_hoanh.pdf

Update from ENV

“Tam biet” Turtle, Film to Strengthen Public Awareness and Help Protect Turtles
April 18, 2008 – ENV, working in partnership with the Vietnam-based Asian Turtle Program and Cuc Phuong National Park, has produced a short film aimed at protecting Vietnam’s turtles. The film, entitled ‘Tam Biet Turtle’ (‘Goodbye Turtle’) follows the perspective of a turtle caught by a hunter and sold into the wildlife trade, and then transported north across the border to the markets of China. Unfortunately, in reality, this is the fate of many of Vietnam’s native turtle species. http://www.envietnam.org/ENV_Resource_Library/ENV_Activities/Press_release/PR%20Turtle%20Film
%20April%2015,%202008.pdf

Vietnamese: http://clip.vn/watch/Yfl,vn,Vinh-biet-Rua
English: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oFJdONb0OqM

Le Minh Thao                                                  
Communications Officer
Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV)
N5. IF1, lane 192 Thai Thinh Str, Dong Da Dist, Hanoi
Tel/Fax: (84 4) 514 8850
Email: communication.env@fpt.vn