ENV

Education for Nature Vietnam

News Brief (E173, 8th - 14th July, 2006)

Grey-shanked douc langur transferred to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center
Binh Dinh province- On July 11, 2006, a grey-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus cinerea) was handed over tothe Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC) of Cuc Phuong National Park (NP) by Binh Dinh Provincial Forest Protection Department (FPD). According to a staff of EPRC, it was in a poor health condition when transferred.

According to the Chief of Binh Dinh’s provincial FPD, several ethnic H’re children discovered the animal and brought it home. After many consultations with rangers, the keepers voluntarily transferred the langur to the FPD.

(Website www.tuoitre.com.vn dated July 12, 2006; Binh Dinh Provincial FPD; EPRC – Cuc Phuong NP)


An orangutan (Pongo abelii)- Source: www.vtv.com.vn

Two orangutans confiscated, transfer to Indonesia planned
Binh Duong province – On July 11, 2006, FPDs of Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province seized two orangutans (Pongo abelii) kept at Thanh Canh restaurant. After the confiscation, a joint medical team from Wildlife at Risk (WAR) and Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation did a full medical checkup of the animals, in preparation for their transfer to Indonesia.

(Website www.vtv.com.vn dated July 11, 2006; www.khoahoc.com.vn dated July 12, 2006; UNDP Wildlife Trade Discussion Group dated July 11 and 12, 2006)

Nearly 3,800 kg of wildlife confiscated in six months
Quang Ninh province – For the six early months of 2006, rangers have uncovered and handled 43 wildlife trade cases, fined over VND 214 million and seized nearly 3,800 kg of wildlife.

For example, on July 1, the local FPD discovered and confiscated a clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) as being illegally bound to China. Commercial exploitation of this species is banned in Decree 32/2006/ND-CP issued by Vietnam’s Government. The animal was transferred to Soc Son Rescue Center in Hanoi.

(People’s Police issue 424 dated July 8, 2006; Vietnam Economics Time issue 136 dated July 10, 2006; Quang Ninh provincial FPD; Customs Department of Mong Cai town)

Roughly 5,000 hunting guns handed over for destruction
Thanh Hoa province– According to the Law newspaper, around 5,000 hunting guns of many types have been handed over to functional agencies in Thanh Hoa province. Ethnic people living in 11 mountainous districts turned in the guns for incineration. This is the result of the hunting gun removal campaign, which has been led by the Thanh Hoa Provincial FPD in order to stop hunting and protect the wildlife. However, according to the statistic provided by the local FPD, there are still more than 5,000 guns kept by residents in the area.

(Law issue 161 dated July 6, 2006)

Endangered Primate Rescue Centre planned in Cat Tien National Park
Dong Nai province– On July 5, 2006, the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre of the United Kingdom and Pingtung Rescue Centre for Endangered Wild Animals of Taiwan signed an agreement supporting Cat Tien NP. USD 500,000 will be spent to carry out the building of a primate rescue centre. Facilities are to include a medical ward, separating ward, training and rehabilitation enclosure, breeding enclosure in wild conditions, food-processing and other buildings.

(Website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment dated July 7, 2006; www.vnagency.com.vn dated July 6, 2006; Director of Cat Tien National Park tel.84 - 061 669669)

Wild elephant herd appears in Chu Prong district
Gia Lai province – According to many media, a herd of wild elephants of approximately 15 individuals appeared in Ia Pior commune of Chu Prong district in Gia Lai province, destroying around 25 ha of farmland.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial FPD, the elephant herd could possibly come from the primeval forest located in Ea H’leo district. The herd is moving in the bordering region between three districts: Chu Prong and Chu Se districts of Gia Lai province and Ea H’leo district of Dak Lak province.

(Website www.thanhnien.com.vn dated July 12, 2006; www.tuoitre.com.vn dated July 12, 2006; www.vtv.vn dated July 12, 2006; www.thanhniennews.com.vn dated July 12, /2006

Activities


Trainees are practicing to design an EE program. Source: ENV, dated July 6, 2006

Training course: environmental education skills for the community
From July 5 to 12, 2006, the training course on environmental education (EE) skills for the community was carried out by Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV). The course was held in Tam Dao NP in Tam Dao district of Vinh Phuc province. The course focused on training environmental educators from NPs and Nature Reserves throughout the country. The participants came from such places as Nui Chua, Kon Ka Kinh NPs and Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area. Trainees have learnt EE skills, participated in an activity of the Tam Dao Nature Club and how to design an EE program as a practicum.

(ENV)

Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)

Salamanders kept in captivity are still able to reproduce
http://www.vtv.vn/vi-vn/khoahoc/2006/7/98218.vtv

Stop hunting and killing precious animals
http://www.nld.com.vn/tintuc/khoa-hoc/156639.asp

Lam Dong province: Largest cache of illegal wood seized
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/tinbai/?top=40&sub=67&article=67540

Đa Nang city: Industrial Zones release leaden gas exceeding the permitted level...65.500 times!
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=15457

Ben Tre province: Prohibit exploitation of ginseng
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=15467

UNESCO requests assessment of Ha Long Bay pollution
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=15495

STOP THE WILDLIFE TRADE
If you observe wildlife being displayed, sold, transported, or kept illegally in captivity, notify your local Forest Protection Department or contact the ENV Wildlife Trade Hotline

1800-1522
YOU can make a difference!

For more information, please contact:

Nguyen Phuong Dung
Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV)
No.2/C5 tap the Dai hoc Ngoai Thuong, pho Chua Lang, Ha Noi.
Tel/Fax: 04-775 3685
env@fpt.vn or communication.env@fpt.vn