Please see our press release and photos of the teacher training workshop on integrating wildlife protection into Biology Subject Grade 7. The activity was conducted this morning with the participation of approximately 300 teachers from all secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

 Please download photos here 

Press release here

Kien Giang, dated 20 June 2014 –The Wildlife Summer Camp that lasted for five days and four nights at Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station had an exciting atmosphere. A series of meaningful and entertaining activities at the Camp aimed to connect youth and wildlife conservation. This Wildlife Summer Camp, also called “Summer Move”, is an annual programme launched by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in June 2013. The Wildlife Summer Camp 2014 was organised by WAR with financial support from Beyond Cosmetic.  

Participating in the Wildlife Summer Camp 2014 (The Camp) were 35 students from different universities in Ho Chi Minh City. Most of them were selected from a letter writing contest where students were asked to imagine that they were an endangered animal that was about to become extinct due to illegal consumption. They had to write a letter to humans asking for help. Some of the participants are excellent volunteers of the SOS Travelling Exhibition and the rest are winners of WAR’s contests during the past year. 

At the Camp, the students learnt about wildlife and experienced practical rescue activities at Hon Me WRS. With the theme “Grown with love”, a highlight of the Camp this year was growing plants for rescued wildlife and forest trees at the Station. In addition, the students worked with WAR staff in normal daily activities such as cleaning enclosures, preparing food and feeding wildlife. 

Also in this Camp, the students learnt and discussed different jobs related to wildlife conservation and identifying suitable jobs that might interest them in the future. They were also learning and practicing different skills such as taking good photos, forest hiking, observing wildlife at night, using camera traps, taking photos of wildlife using special equipment.

In addition to the above wildlife protection activities, a series of entertaining activities and social skills training were also designed in order to help the students learn, work and enjoy life better. 

The Camp not only connected the students to wildlife conservation activities but also connect them together in a network of future wildlife conservation supporters.“

Based on the success of this Wildlife Summer Camp, WAR will develop and organise similar activities to bring more opportunities for youngsters to experience nature and wildlife and wildlife protection jobs. WAR expects that the youth will be more interested in a profession with wildlife and to take practical action towards wildlife protectionboth now and in the future after their experiences”, said Mrs. Huyen Do Thi Thanh, Wildlife Education Manger, WAR said. 

Please download the first press release here. 

To view some photos of the Summer Move 2014, please click here. 

Contact

Wildlife At Risk (WAR)

202/10 Nguyen Xi St., Ward 26, Binh Thanh Dist., HCMC

Tel:08 3899 7314;

Fax:08 3899 7316,

Mobile: 0912287156

Email: info@wildlifeatrisk.org,

Website: www.wildlifeatrisk.org

This thirty-four-page booklet, sized 14.5X20.5cm, in Vietnamese, introduces 34 species of reptiles and amphibians living in the wild at Hon Me and the surrounding. The booklet includes seven amphibian species belonging to four families, and 27 reptile species belonging to seven families. Each species also includes information about its level of common and observation time. The booklet is illustrated by over 70 live photos taken from 2011 to 2013. The booklet aims to support WAR’s conservation activities at Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station. It is also helpful for local decision makers on conservation, sustainable development, and environmental education activities for local people and tourists.

WAR also has conducted other biodiversity surveys including wild plants, butterflies, birds, animals and some insects. Result of those surveys will be announced in the future.

For further requirements or comments, please contact Mr. Nguyen Vu Khoi – CEO,  Wildlife At Risk at nvkhoi70@gmail.com or info@wildlifeatrisk.org.

Ho Chi Minh City, dated 24 April 2014 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) is pleased to announce that the annual programme titled “Wildlife Summer Camp 2014” or also called “Summer Move”, which was launched last year, will be organised this coming June with financial support from Beyond Cosmetic.   

Wildlife Summer Camp 2014 is designed to include practical and interactive activities. In order to attract volunteers to the benefits of a care er in wildlife protection the activities will be conducted in an exciting and creative manner. The programme aims to connect youth to wildlife conservation through helping them identify suitable jobs and to inspire them to take actions to protect wildlife both now and for the future. 

The theme of Wildlife Summer Camp 2014 is “Grown with love”. The programme will last for five days and four nights at WAR’s Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station. During the programme, volunteers who come from different universities in Ho Chi Minh City will experience daily rescue activities such as preparing food and feeding wildlife, cleaning wildlife enclosures. They will raise awareness of local people on wildlife protection and be equipped with skills related to the profession such as photography, camera trap setting up, and forest surveying. A highlight of the Camp this year is growing food plants for rescued wildlife and forest trees at the Station. 

In order to find suitable students for the Wildlife Summer Camp 2014, a letter writing contest was launched by WAR. In the contest, students were asked to imagine that they were an endangered wildlife and that were about to become extinct due to illegal consumption; they had to write a letter to humans asking for help. The contest lasts from 24 April to 20 May 2014 with the winners of the contest participating in the Wildlife Summer Camp 2014. 

Ms. Huyen Do Thi Thanh – Wildlife Education Manager, WAR added that “About 35 of the best university students will join the Wildlife Summer Camp 2014 at Hon Wildlife Rescue Station this June.We are carefully preparing the programme so that it will continue to encourage and inspire the participants in wildlife protection. If you have a desire to protect wildlife but do not know where to start, you should apply to take part in our Wildlife Summer Camp 2014”.

Please see the contest rules for selecting participants for Wildlife Summer Camp 2014 here.

Click here for full press release and here for photos of Wildlife Summer Camp 2013, or also called Summer Move 2013.

April 2014 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area (MPA) organised a five-day study tour on marine conservation and education at Nui Chua National Park, Ninh Thuan Province for approximately 30 leaders and staff from relevant functional agencies on Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province. This is one activity of the project entitled “Conservation of Dugong and Biodiversity of Phu Quoc and Tho Chu Islands” conducted by WAR and Phu Quoc MPA for the period of 2013 to 2015.

Participated in the study tour were local leaders and staff on Phu Quoc Island including Department of Education and Training, Department of Nature Resource and Environment, Department of Economics, Culture and Tourism Center, District Youth Union, a number of Border Posts and community volunteer groups, principals and teachers managing six Marine Conservation Clubs of six local secondary schools, Phu Quoc MPA, and WAR.Participants were exciting to share experiences and to exchange relationships with staff of Nui Chua National Park. They also visited numerous typical landscapes of the Park, including coral reefs and dry forest. Delegates also met with teachers and students of Ngo Quyen and Nguyen Van Linh secondary schools of Ninh Hai District in order to share experiences on marine conservation initiatives. “The study tour is quite useful. It helped us to be aware that strong cooperation amongst relevant functional authorities is key to the success in marine conservation, especially in education and communication activities” – shared Mr. Dong Thanh Dat, Head of the Department of Education and Training. Most of the delegates committed that they would apply what they learnt at Nui Chua National Park to their jobs in order to conserve marine resources. The trip also connected each delegate to the others and toward saving endangered marine creatures. This will hopefully result in stronger cooperation among relevant bodies on Phu Quoc Island in marine conservation activities in the future.

Please click here to see some photos of the study tour

February, 2014 – Approximately 70 leaders and teachers from Tan Phu and Binh Tan Districts respectively participated in two meetings organised at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station to conclude the plan to integrate wildlife protection into Biology Subject Grade 7. This activity is under the framework of the SOS programme for academic year 2013 – 2014. Participated in the two meetings of Tan Phu And Binh Tan districts were representatives of the District Department of Education and Training (DOET), school managers, and teachers of Biology Subject Grade 7 from all secondary schools of the district. All participants enthusiastically discussed and gave constructive comments on the supporting materials those are included supported photos and video clips.

“The supported materials including the instruction manual and teaching aids are very useful and user friendly for teachers to teach about wildlife protection. We are wholeheartedly committed to support WAR in integrating wildlife protection content into our school curriculum. The plan will be immediately implemented“, said Ms. Hoang Nguyen Thi Kim, The Senior Education Specialist, Tan Phu DOE.At the end of the meeting, all schools decided to integrate wildlife protection into Biology Subject Grade 7 for all students in each of the two districts. Each school received two sets of supporting materials.   Since the sample lesson for students of Truong Cong Dinh Secondary School, Binh Thanh District on 6^th December 2013, 12 secondary schools of Binh Thanh District have been integrating wildlife protection content into five lessons forward of Biology Subject for Grade 7. The integrating programme will be continuously applied to all secondary schools of Binh Thanh, Tan Phu and Binh Tan Districts in the coming time. As a part of each district meeting, education managers and teachers also visited and learnt about endangered species rescued at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, as well as current situation of wildlife consumption. They were inspired by what WAR is doing to rescue endangered wildlife of Vietnam and show their positive attitude toward wildlife protection.   Please download the Instruction materials and teaching aids here

The People’s Court of Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province has just punished by terms of imprisonment the four killers of the Indochinese Silvered Langur on Phu Quoc Island. According to this sentence, each indictee is going to be imprisoned from two to two and a half year.  At 8.30AM on 30 July 2013, Vo Van Thong born in 1976, Nguyen Minh Ha born in 1978, Duong Cong Luc, born in 1977 and Huynh Huu Loc born in 1979 (all resided on Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province) went into the strictly protection forest of Phu Quoc National Park to hunt wildlife for meat. Two individuals of Indochinese Silvered Langur were shot, killed and partly eaten. While killing the third individual, the four were caught in action by the Park’s rangers. Proofs were included three bodies of Indochinese Silvered Langurs those are partly eaten, one sport gun, three knives, one hammer and two motorbikes.

On 6^th September 2013, all four indictees were arrested and imprisoned for judging court. The three bodies of the Indochinese Silvered Langur were identified and confirmed by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and The Institute of Ecological and Biological Resources, Hanoi, specimen is maintained by WAR.  

 On 20 January 2014, the People’s Court of Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province accused the four indictees of violating government regulations on endangered wildlife management. Accordingly, the Court sentenced Vo Van Thong and Nguyen Minh Ha two years and six months of imprisonment, and Duong Cong Luc and Huynh Huu Loc two years of imprisonment.  The specimen is decided to be buried. Silvered Langur is an endangered species that is native to Kien Giang Province. The species is listed in IUCN Red Book and is categorized as vulnerable species (VU level) in Vietnamese Red Book. The Silvered Langur is listed in the IB animal group under Decree 32/2006 NĐ-CP of the government on endangered wildlife management.

Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, WAR’s Wildlife Education Manager expressed that: “The sentence is not the highest of its frame. But it is strict enough to be a lesson for anyone who is intent or is hunting, transporting and consuming endangered wildlife. We highly appreciate those enforcement efforts of Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province. We also expect that more local people will take actions in wildlife protection”. Please see more news about this case here, and some photos of the Indochinese Silvered Langur here. 

Since April 2012, Hoang Phap Pagoda, Hooc Mon District, has handed over 41 individuals of endangered wildlife in 17 times to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS). This is the first pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City that has joined WAR rescue and release endangered wildlife. The species those were handed include Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), Monocellated Cobra (Naja naja kaouthia), Common Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus), Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Heosemys annandalii), Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), Malayan Snail-eating Turtle (Malayemys Macrocephala), Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica), Burmese Ferret-badger (Melogale personata) and Flying Squirrel (Hylopeteslepidus). Most of the individuals were given to the Pagoda by local Buddhists for good-luck releasing.   

 Thirty nine individual out of the 41 were successfully released back to the wild. Some were witnessed by the Buddist monks and local people. The wildlife were released to protected forests such as Dong Voi, Cu Chi District, Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province, and Lo Go Xa Mat National Park, Tay Ninh Province. In addition, the Hoang Phap Pagoda donated cash for feeding these rescued species. Recently, a Burmese Ferret-badger was handed over to Cu Chi WRS together with some cash for its food. According to the Pagoda, the cash was donated by local Buddhists. This is the fifth time the pagoda has donated cash to Cu Chi WRS. The activities showes the pagoda’s willing toward wildlife protection. 

WAR highly appreciates and extremely thanks for the contribution of Hoang Phap Pagoda and other companies, schools and individuals for joining us rescue and release wildlife back to the wild. 

Ho Chi Minh City, dated 29 December 2013–  Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and HCMC Forest Protection Department (FPD) operated the SOS Traveling Exhibition at the camp titled “The Youth for a Green City” at the Centre for Teenager Outdoor Activities, Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City. The activity aims to improve knowledge of the students on situation of wildlife product consumptions in HCMC. It also helps the students to understand that consumption is the most dangerous threat to wildlife as it drives wildlife demand and thus wildlife hunting and trading.Over 140 secondary school students aged 12-15 years old who are winners of the contest titled: “The Youth for a Green City”, from District 9, Can Gio, Cu Chi, and Binh Chanh Districts, 50 teachers, rangers and staff of the Centre for Teenager Outdoor Activities participated in the SOS Traveling Exhibition. The students have been quite exciting to visit the SOS exhibition for the first time. They enjoyed the games and every other activity of the exhibition.

WAR hopes that the students have been inspired by visiting the SOS Exhibition and thus they will take practical actions to protect wildlife.  

Ho Chi Minh City, dated 6^th December 2013 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) cooperated with Binh Thanh District Department of Education and Training (DOET) of Ho Chi Minh City DOET to organise a workshop on integrating wildlife protection into Biology Subject for Grade 7. The workshop included a sample lesson for students of Truong Cong Dinh Secondary School and introduction of the plan for integrating wildlife protection into the curriculum. Instruction materials and teaching aids for the plan were also introduced.Participating in the workshop were representatives of Ho Chi Minh City DOET, leaders and all biology subject teachers of Binh Thanh DOET, leaders of Tan Phu and Binh Tan District DOETs, teachers and students of Truong Cong Dinh Secondary School, and leaders and staff of WAR.At the workshop, the sample lesson on Fish Diversity was successfully delivered to students of Grade 7. Teachers were also guided on how to use the instruction materials and teaching aids.  Comments on the supporting materials were also collected.According to this integration plan, wildlife protection will be integrated into ten lessons of Biology Subject Grade 7, in order to educate children about beauty and value of Vietnam’s wildlife, the threats it faces and action each student can take to protect wildlife. The content also aims to foster student’s attitude towards wildlife protection and prepare them to take part in wildlife protection.The instruction material entitled “Wildlife Protection – A Guide on how to integrate it into Biology Subject Grade 7” includes detailed guidelines and ten sample lessons that helps the teacher to integrate wildlife protection into each lesson.  Each sample lesson also includes general information on each animal group for the teacher’s reference.  Together with the instruction materials is a set of 54 high quality live photos sized 21X29cm of endangered wildlife and the threats it faces, and ten video clips, each three to five minutes long, which were developed from 600 live photos of approximately 400 wildlife species and their threats.  The material and the teaching aids were developed based on a need assessment conducted with biology subject teachers of Binh Thanh DOET. The content was carefully designed so that it aligns with the official curriculum of Biology Subject Grade 7 and does not create pressure on lesson length.  All integration content was carefully considered so as to be practical, update and suitable to the students.According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Tu, Vice Director of Binh Thanh DDOET, “The integration of wildlife protection content into Biology Subject Grade 7, supported by the instruction material and the set of teaching aids not only provides children with further knowledge and practical information on Vietnam’s wildlife but also helps the lesson to be more attractive and effective, and thus the students will pay more attention to Biology Subject and be willing to take part in wildlife protection”.Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Wildlife Education Manager – WAR, emphasized that: “Educating children on wildlife protection is a long term and sustainable solution in order to create the next generation who love nature and will be ready to take part in wildlife protection.  WAR expects that the integration of wildlife protection into Biology Subject Grade 7 will be practiced widely in Ho Chi Minh City and throughout the country.  The Instruction material and the teaching aids will be updated regularly to reflect teachers’ needs and thus ensure their effectiveness”.In this academic year 2013-2014, this integration of wildlife protection in Biology Subject Grade 7 will be applied to all secondary schools in Binh Thanh District and some secondary schools of Tan Phu and Binh Tan Districts. Please see some photos of the parade here, and full press release here. Additional informationAbout WARWildlife At Risk (WAR) is dedicated to protecting the biodiversity of Vietnam by combating the illegal wildlife trade and promoting the conservation of endangered species and their habitats.  Founded in 2003 in Vietnam, WAR focuses on working in three areas including (1) Enforcement Programmes, (2) Conservation Programmes and (3) Wildlife Education Programmes.Instruction material entitled “Wildlife Protection – A Guide on how to integrate it into Biology Subject Grade 7”The Vietnamese language material of more than 80 pages includes three chapters.  Chapter 1: Integration Fundamentals includes basic information on Vietnam’s wildlife, some positive teaching methodologies and the legal structure of integrating wildlife protection into Biology Subject Grade 7. Chapter 2: Integration objects, content and address includes a detailed information on object, content and where to integrate wildlife protection content for each of ten lessons of Biology Subject Grade 7.  Chapter 3: Sample lessons is ten sample lessons of integration including: Animal World, Insect, Fish, Amphibians, Reptile, Bird, Bat, Carnivore, Rodent, Hoof, Primate, and endangered animals.  Each sample lesson was designed based on a standard lesson plan that included lesson objectives, preparation, and teaching and learning activities.  Each sample lesson also includes general information of the animal group for teachers to refer to.  The material also includes an evaluation form for the teacher to take important notes on the integration programme.Set of teaching aid toolEach integration lesson includes three to eleven live colour photos sized 21X29cm of Vietnam’s wildlife and the threats it faces and detailed species information.  The colour photos were packed in a manner that eases teachers in using the photos.  Each lesson also includes one video clip of three to five minutes long which were developed from approximately 60 live photos of approximately 40 wildlife species and the threats against it. The large photos, video clips and all photos of the video clips were copied into an attached DVD.Links to video clipsBài 1: Thế giới động vật đa dạng phong phú: http://youtu.be/zQeCHhN1rms
Bài 27: Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của lớp Sâu bọ: http://youtu.be/L-ateJ0kw6w
Bài 34: Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của lớp Cá: http://youtu.be/MDtkINtL4yA
Bài 37: Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của lớp Lưỡng cư: http://youtu.be/r3mW66xWXRk
Bài 40: Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của lớp Bò sát: http://youtu.be/mTyctLs3fWo
Bài 44: Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của lớp Chim: http://youtu.be/vuB92-RfSko
Bài 49: Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của lớp Thú (Bộ Dơi và Bộ Cá voi): http://youtu.be/5EeSrBBWNKYBài 50. Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của Lớp thú – Bộ Gặm nhấm và Bộ ăn thịt: http://youtu.be/M4_P6YGJMDEBài 51. Đa dạng và đặc điểm chung của Lớp thú – Bộ Móng guốc và bộ Linh trưởng: http://youtu.be/HJ6lnIe158ABài 60. Động vật quý hiếm:http://youtu.be/JVCCsZPwpcASOS programmeSOS Programme for acedamic year 2013-2014, includes three components including (1) SOS mobile exhibition that was launched in Devember 2011, Visiting Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station and Integrating Wildlife Education into Biology Subject grade 7.