Education for Nature Vietnam
News Brief (E181, 2nd - 8th Sep, 2006)
Timber smugglers attack rangers
Quang Nam province – On September 2nd, Forest Protection Department (FPD) rangers had a violent encounter with timber smugglers in Phu Ninh district. While patrolling in the protected forest, FPD detected a group of about 40 people smuggling valuable timber. Upon encountering a ranger team, the smugglers fled, leaving the timber behind. Rangers were able to lay hands on two members of the group. However, one of the two attacked them with a knife, injuring Acting Chief of Phu Ninh FPD and another, before she escaped. Police are investigating in pursuit of the attacker.
(People’s Police issue 475 dated September 6th, 2006; Quang Nam provincal FPD)
Thai Nguyen province – On the evening of August 30th, eight rangers from a mobile FPD team were injured in a confrontation with timber smugglers. Thai Nguyen municipal FPD was informed of an illegal timber shipment on its way from Vo Nhai district to Thai Nguyen city. The mobile team was deployed immediately in Khe Mo commune to capture the shipment. The transporters resisted violently, injuring eight rangers. The city’s No. 2 ranger team, 113 emergency dispatch and Dong Hy district police were called to help deal with the large number of offenders. Thirteen motorbikes and 2m3 of valuable timber were seized.
(Website www.thanhnien.com.vn dated September 1st, 2006)
Wildlife hidden in taxi
Kon Tum province – On August 28th, Ngoc Hoi district police station’s patrol team detected a taxi carrying wildlife. When caught, the suspects tried to bribe the police. Searching the taxi, police found four pangolins weighing 21.9 kg in total. The suspects were arrested for further questioning. The pangolins were released to Chu Mon Ray National Park.
(People’s Police issue 471 dated September 1st, 2006; Education for Nature – Vietnam)
Updates from ENV’s Wildlife Crime Hotline 1800 1522
Wildlife traders sentenced
Ninh Binh province – According to Ninh Binh provincial FPD, a provincial court sentenced a man to 15 months of probation for illegally transporting wildlife. On July 30th, 2006, he was caught red-handed when he carried 76 Malayan pangolins (Manis Javanica) from Laos through the Huong Son border gate into northern Vietnam. The provincial FPD auctioned all the pangolins.
(Education for Nature – Vietnam; Ninh Binh provincial FPD)
Phu Yen province – Another man, caught transporting 70 crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis), received an administrative fine of VND 13 million. He was bringing the shipment from Binh Thuan to Nghe An when stopped by Tuy Hoa traffic police on March 29th, 2006. Phu Yen provincial FPD released the macaques to the Deo Ca special use forest.
(Education for Nature – Vietnam; People’s Police issue 353 dated April 1st, 2006; Phu Yen provincial FPD)
Kon Tum province – Caught smuggling turtles on April 18th, 2006,two men were sentenced to twelve months of probation each. Ngoc Hoi border guards arrested them when they tried to bring 45 big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum) from Cambodia to Vietnam. The turtles were released to Chu Mom Ray National Park.
(Education for Nature, The Pioneer issue 84 dated April 27th, 2006; Chu Mom Ray National Park)
Photograph of the Week
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| Though protected under Decree 32/2006/ND-CP, pangolins are still commonly traded in Vietnam. Source: Education for Nature – Vietnam |
Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)
HCMC: Deploying Improved General Air Quality Program
http://www.nld.com.vn/tintuc/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/144598.asp
Japan helps Vietnam Science & Technology Institute in treating wastewater
http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/view.asp?Cat_ID=7&Cat_Sub_ID=2&news_id=8340
Hai Phong: Living with noxious smog http://www.tuoitre.com.vn/Tianyon/Index.aspx?ArticleID=160030&ChannelID=3
Treating ash-contaminated tap water
http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/view.asp?Cat_ID=7&Cat_Sub_ID=2&news_id=8296
Nghe An and Thanh Hoa: Co-operation on protecting forests
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&idmid=&ItemID=16980
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 Thi Phuong Ngan
Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV)
No.2/C5 tap the Dai hoc Ngoai Thuong, pho Chua Lang, Ha Noi.
Tel/Fax: 04-775 3685
Email: env@fpt.vn or communication.env@fpt.vn