Ho Chi Minh City, 7^th May, 2012 – By the end of this school year 2011-2012,more than 15,000 students aged 12-15 years old and teachers from 36 secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City have participated in the SOS traveling exhibition since it was launched in December 2011. Leaving the exhibition, students and teachers were totally committed to “Say no illegal wildlife products” and promised to help Vietnams’ endangered wildlife. 

The SOS Travelling Exhibition was conducted by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) with strong support from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training and the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department. The SOS exhibition is an initiative of WAR, to educate and urge the younger generation of Vietnam to save wildlife from the brink of extinction such as the Javan Rhino. Visiting the SOS Travelling Exhibition, students are taught all about the illegal wildlife consumption throughout Vietnam. The students are able to watch interesting video clips about wildlife product consumption, touch and interact with the exhibits, listen to endangered wildlife sounds, and participate in exciting games to win gifts from WAR.

The students and teachers were quite excited when participating at the exhibition. Previously, most students and citizens thought that illegal hunting is the most dangerous threat to wildlife. However, after visiting the exhibition, many children have realized that illegal wildlife product consumption is the most dangerous threat to Vietnam’s wildlife. Many students were moved when interacting with exhibits on how endangered animals were consumed and are now being pushed towards the brink of extinction. On the consolidation of the SOS Travelling Exhibition of school year 2011-2012, a two-day study tour to Cat Tien National Park was organised for more than 20 university volunteers who successfully completed their tasks of guiding students at the exhibition. During this study tour, the volunteers had the opportunity to explore the jungle where the Javan Rhino used to live. The trip helped the volunteers to understand more about forest values. It also makes them appreciated the wonderful wildlife and more regretful for the extinction of the Javan Rhino. The knowledge and experience earned during the trip will help the volunteers to be more confident in guiding students at the SOS Travelling Exhibition in the future.

“The SOS Travelling Exhibition has raised the awareness and knowledge on the illegal wildlife production consumption for both students and teachers. We hope that not only secondary school students but also the public will act in saving Vietnam’s endangered wildlife by saying NO to illegal wildlife products”, saidMrs. Huyen Do Thi Thanh, Wildlife Education Manager – WAR. The SOS Travelling Exhibition was successfully operated in four districts in Ho Chi Minh City including District 1, District 3, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan Districts. This exhibition will be operated in other secondary schools in other districts in next school year. Please download the press release here, and see more photos of the Nature Discovering trip of the volunteers at Cat Tien National Park here.

14^th April, 2012 – An Italian film crew from La7 television channel came to film the Moon Bears and Sun Bears at Cat Tien Bear and Wild Cat Rescue Station operated by WAR. Footage from the Station will be used to create a documentation film about Vietnam wildlife that will be broadcasted on La7 channel. 

The bears in the 1ha semi wild enclosure were filmed in a way so that it looks like the bears are in the wild. The releasing of two endangered King Cobras, one Leopard Cat and five Elongated Tortoises to the forest of Cat Tien National Park were also film. These endangered animals were successfully rescued and rehabilitated by WAR staff from Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.

In this documentation films, other endangered animals were also filmed throughout Vietnam such as Pangolin from Cuc Phuong National Park, Delacour’s Langur, White-cheeked Gibbon and Golden Headed Langur from Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Station, Giant Long-legged Cave Fish From Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, and various insects, birds, small carnivores, snakes, reptiles, moth and butterflies in all those places. 

The film crew was extremel happy with the all the shots they got, including footage of bears enjoying their comfortable semi wild environmental at the Cat Tien Bear and Wild Cat Rescue Station. 

During the filming trip, La7 also supported the wildlife at Cat Tien Bear and Wild Cat Rescue Station by contributing some funds to help buy animal food. WAR would like to thank La7 channel for promoting the unique wildlife of Vietnam and for their great support towards WAR.

Huyen Do

Ho Chi Minh City, March 2012 –Wildlife At Risk (WAR) has successfully operated the “SOS Travelling Exhibition – Education on wildlife consumption” in 20 secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Approximately 10,000 secondary school students and teachers participated in this exhibition, under the supervision of 20 young and enthusiastic volunteer students.

Visiting the SOS Travelling Exhibition, students are taught all about the illegal wildlife consumption throughout Vietnam. The students are able to watch interesting video clips about wildlife product consumption, touch and interact with the exhibits, listen to endangered wildlife calls, and participate in exciting games to win gifts from WAR.

Many students were moved when interacting with exhibits on how endangered animals were killed for meat, alcoholic drinks or traditional medicines, or how they were kept illegally as pets. Many others were saddened to learn that the Javan Rhino is now extinct in Vietnam. To show their commitment in protesting against the illegal wildlife consumption, the students demonstrated loudly WAR’s campaign exhibition slogan “Say no to illegal wildlife products” and promised to help Vietnams’ endangered wildlife.

“I love the SOS Travelling Exhibition very much. I would like to thank WAR for giving me this opportunity to participate in such an exciting and useful programme. I promise that I will not use illegal wildlife products in order to conserve our precious wildlife. I wish that the SOS travelling exhibition would travel to more secondary schools so that many children like me could visit this interesting and impressive exhibition”, said Hoang Long, a 13 year old boy from Huynh Khuong Ninh Secondary School, District 1.

The SOS Travelling Exhibition is an initiative of WAR to educate the younger generation of Vietnam and urge them to save wildlife from the brink of extinction such as the Javan Rhino. The SOS exhibition is strongly supported by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training and Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department.

Launched in the beginning of December 2011, the SOS Travelling Exhibition has been operating throughout 20 secondary schools in District 1 and Binh Thanh District. From now to May 2012, the exhibition will target more than 8,000 secondary school students and teachers in District 3 and Phu Nhuan District.

WAR would like to thank the organisations and individuals who have sponsored the SOS Travelling Exhibition. WAR is currently looking for further support in order to travel to other secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City, and thus contributing to stopping the illegal consumption wildlife products and in turn save Vietnam’s endangered wildlife.

If you would like to support this exhibition, please contact Ms.Huyen Do Thi Thanh – Wildlife Education Manager at Huyen.dtt@wildlifeatrisk.org.

Please see more photos of the SOS Travelling Exhibition here.

Do Huyen – Ho Thi Kim Lan

Ho Chi Minh City, 3rd March 2012 – More than 200 native rasbora (Rasbora paviana) and fighting fish (Betta splendens) were released to Cau Do canal, a tributary of the Sai Gon River. This is the fifth time, Wildlife at Risk (WAR) has released native fishes back to the wild, helping repopulate native fish species and encouraging local people to use native fishes for aquariums. These fishes were bred in the program titled “Breeding and release native fishes to the wild” that was partly supported by LIN (Center for Community Development).   

This time, the fishes were released by twenty student volunteers from different universities throughout Ho Chi Minh City. After releasing fishes, these students were instructed carefully on how to take care of these fishes. Many of them received rasbora and fighting fishes to raise in their personal aquariums. 

 “We are pleased to welcome citizens and students of Ho Chi Minh City who visited WAR’s office to learn how to raise native fishes and to receive the fishes for their aquariums. It shows that native fish for aquariums are receiving public interest and helping the conservation of these species”

Wildlife At Risk (WAR) has released more than 750 individuals of rasbora sp and fighting fishes to different tributaries of Sai Gon River. WAR is now conducting researches and captive breeding of other species of native fishes in order to release to the wild. 
Please download the press release here.

On 19th December 2011, Mr. Phan Van Khai – Former Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam visited CCWRS with his family members. He was totally pleased to see endangered animals those were being rescued at the station. After getting to know more about the station and its achievements in the past five years, he highly appreciated the rescue and release jobs at CCWRS.

To show his strong supports on wildlife protection Prime Minister Phan Van Khai donated an amount of money to take care of animals in the CCWRS.

Ho Chi Minh City, 3rd December, 2011 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Department of Education and Training, HCMC Forest Protection launch the “SOS traveling exhibition – Education on wildlife product consumption” at Minh Duc Secondary School, District 1. The launching ceremony not only officially launches the SOS traveling tent but also urges leaders, students and participants to act to help Vietnams’ wildlife that faces possible extinction such as the Javan Rhino.

More than 500 people participating in the launching ceremony are included leaders of HCMC Department of Education and Training, HCMC Forest Protection Department, representatives of Department of Education and Trainings from all districts of HCMC, administrators from HCMC Secondary Schools, teachers and students representing Minh Duc Secondary School, Wildlife At Risk staff, non-governmental organisations, volunteers from many universities in HCMC and local media. Also attending the ceremony are representatives of Dragon Capital Corporation and Mango Bay Resort who have sponsored the SOS traveling exhibition.

After cutting the inauguration ribbon, all participants and students visit the SOS travelling exhibition. This is a tent of about 60m2 that included different interactive exhibits, models and games. The SOS travelling exhibition tent emphasizes that consumers are the most dangerous threat to wildlife. Everyone can contribute to wildlife protection by: “Say NO to illegal wildlife products.” More than twenty volunteer students who guide the students at the travelling tent are also presented. These volunteers were equipped with adequate knowledge and skills and now are ready to help secondary school students through the exhibition.

Ho Chi Minh City, 28th November, 2011 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training and Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department announces that the “SOS traveling exhibition – Education on wildlife product consumption” will be officially launched on Saturday 3rd December 2011, at Minh Duc Secondary School, Ho Chi Minh City. There will be roughly 500 delegates and students attending this special launching ceremony.

With the important message, “Say no to illegal wildlife products”, the SOS travelling exhibition provides children aged 12 – 15 years old with useful knowledge and astonishing information related to the consumption of wild animal products, thereby directing and urging the students to act and help Vietnams’ endangered wildlife before it is too late. This exhibition is developed based on the results of the residential and secondary school student survey on consumption of wild animal products in Ho Chi Minh City” that was released by WAR in May 2011.

According to Ms. Huyen Do Thi Thanh, Wildlife Education Manager, WAR “The SOS travelling exhibition is a professionally designed tent measuring roughly  60m2 including many attractive models, photographs, objects, sounds, movies and games. Children visiting the SOS educational tent can not only see but also hear, touch and interact with the exhibits and games. Helping guide and interpret information during the exhibition are more than 20 trained active volunteers studying at various universities throughout Ho Chi Minh City”.

Ho Chi Minh City, 11 July 2011 – Under the technical support of Wildlife At Risk (WAR), Vietnam Post published Vietnam dragonfly stamp sets including four samples on post net at home and abroad.
This activity introduces the public about dragonfly species – these insects are abundant and are native to Vietnam with nearly 300 species found throughout the country (According to Do Manh Cuong, 2011); but they also contribute to raise the public’s awareness on wildlife protection and conservation for Vietnam.

The four dragonfly species on the published stamp sets were recorded on Phu Quoc Island. Among them, two new species called: Lyriothemis mortoni and Rhyothemis obsolescens were discovered by WAR in 2007. These two species had not been recorded before in Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Vu Khoi, CEO, Wildlife At Risk stated: “Besides Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam is home to many plants and animals that are unique to this region. Therefore, we must work together to protect our wonderful wildlife and their habitats. These dragonfly stamp sets that were published on post net at home and abroad will help promote the discoveries about biodiversity in Vietnam and create a database for wildlife conservation and wildlife education.”

In the future, WAR will release more photos and results about the biodiversity found throughout Vietnam to help educate the public through conservation activities.
 “Support WAR save Vietnams’ unique natural resources!”

To download Press Release, click here.

See more pictures of these dragonfly species at:www.wildlifeatrisk.org/album/18/vietnam-dragonfly-stamp-sets-published/

Ho Chi Minh City, 8th July 2011 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Khan Quang Do Magazine successfully conducted a one-day trip titled “Discovering nature of Dong Nai Culture-Nature Reserve (Vinh Cuu)”. More than 25 members of the “I Love Nature” Club and “Young Media” Club – aged 12 to 15 years old, journalists from Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and volunteer students from University of Science, HCMC joined this trip.

The main aim of this trip was to encourage their love for nature; increase their awareness and knowledge about nature of the Dong Nai Culture-Nature Reserve in particular as well as create chances for members of clubs to experience, study and join in protecting wildlife and nature. They looked for animal signs with a magnifying glass, learn about forest ecosystems and discovered the biodiversity of the “Central Bureau of Southern”. Students also visited the forest arboretum where they studied the importance of forest recovery and function of the arboretum. The students were interested in the plant species grown here and understood the efforts of Dong Nai Culture-Nature Reserve in forest protection and species recovery.

The students also visited the museum and heroes cemetery at the Central Bureau. Most students were moved when they listened about the arduous war of the heroes who fought to protect Vietnam. One of the activities, which students learned to protect Vietnam, is to contribute to wildlife and nature protection.

The one-day trip to discovery nature of Dong Nai Culture-Nature Reserve is part of the program titled “Take part in nature protection” by WAR and Khan Quang Do Magazine that was developed in June 2010 for student’s aged 11 to 15 year olds from “I Love Nature” Club and “Young Media” Club. They joined the two-day trip to discover the nature of Cat Tien National Park, visited the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, participated in releasing wildlife back to the forest and became young communicators for their schools learning how to write articles related to protecting Vietnams’ nature.

Ho Chi Minh City, 15 June 2011 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) announces the results of its latest biodiversity survey from Ba To district, Quang Ngai province. The result from this survey is one of the first sources of biodiversity information of this area.

The survey was conducted in two weeks by WAR in cooperation with national and international experts in various fields of fresh water fish, insects (Dragonflies, Butterflies, Cerambycidae family, Lucanidae family), amphibian and reptile species, mammals and plants.

Preliminary results have recorded nearly 60 species of amphibians and reptiles in BaTo district, 32 species of mammal (including 15 species of bats) and 52 species of dragonflies. Notably,Taylor’s bug-eyed frog (Thelodermastellatum) – an endangered species found in the IUCN Red List, and Yellow-spotted Spadefoot Toad – an endemic species for Viet Nam. Some endangered species of mammal were also recorded during the survey, such as Gibbon (Nomascus sp.), Northern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca leonine).

“The list of animals and plants were found after two weeks surveying this area high-lighting the great potential for biodiversity in Quang Ngai Province. We hope that the findings of WAR will contribute to conservation and academic research”, said Mr Nguyen Vu Khoi, WAR’s director.

The recent survey in Quang Ngai is one of the annual conservation survey activities of WAR. Modifications, additional records are anticipated.