Ho Chi Minh City, dated 18 April 2014 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) cooperated with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department to release over 300 individuals of Red-Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica), 120 individuals of Tokey Gecko (Gekko gecko), and 13 individuals of Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica).

These wildlife were confiscated by Ho Chi Minh City Environmental Police and transfered to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station a few days ago. These individuals were healthy enough to be released back to the wild.

At Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, a big number of wildlife had been released back to the wild after spending only a few days at the Station. It’s commonly birds and reptiles. The releasing happening soon reduces the time the wildlife were captured and thus increasing its ability to reintegrate into its nature populations.

Among the three species released this time, Tokey Gecko is the only species listed in Vietnam Red Book. Although Red Collared Dove and Lesser Whistling Duck are not listed in the Vietnam Red Book, they are often hunt for meat and its populations are decreasing steadily in the wild. WAR advices people not to eat bush meat illegally in order to save wildlife.  

 Phu Quoc Island, dated 19 July 2013 – One Hawksbill turtle weighing 9kg and one Green turtle weighing 12 kg were successfully tagged and released back to the Gulf of Thailand despite the storm and thus big waves this morning. In the past six years, WAR have successfully rescued and released more than 25 sea turtles. However, this is the first time, the rescued sea turtles have been tagged for releasing. The iron tags including Vietnam code and WAR email help to identify the sea turtles in case they are caught or observed.

The Hawksbill was confiscated from a Pearl Company on Phu Quoc Island. At the same time, the Green Turtle was handed over voluntary by Mr. Tri Nguyen Huu – a fisher man on Phu Quoc Island. According to Mr. Tri, the Green Turtle was sold in market with a fish hook. At that time, the Green Turtle weighed only 6kg. Some trader wanted to pay two million Vietnam Dong or 100 US dollars for this Green Turtle. However, his family rather raised the Green Turtle and then released it than killed or sold it.

Mr. Tri joined the team and travel 20 km away from South point of An Thoi to release the sea turtles. After being released, the two turtles raised their heads over the waves twice before diving down to the freedom ocean as if they were thankful and saying goodbye to the working team.

Mr. Khoi Nguyen Vu – WAR’s CEO expressed that, “WAR is highly appreciated Mr.Tri’s action and do hope that more any more people will act like him in order to save our endangered marine species and our beautiful sea”.

The rescue and release activities were conducted by WAR staff, Phu Quoc Marine Protect Areas and the special working team that includes representatives from different functional agencies. This is one of a project activities entitled “Conservation of Dugong and endangered marine species in Phu Quoc and Tho Chu Islands”, implemented by WAR and Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area from 2013-2015. The project is a WAR’s response to the discovery of Dugong trade network on Phu Quoc Island last year (August 2008).

 Dated 17^th May, 2013 – Fifty fourendangered wildlife individuals including39 individuals of Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), six Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae), five Common Palm Civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and four Barn Owls (Tyto alba) weresuccessfully released to Bu Gia Map National Park, Binh Phuoc Province by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department (FPD). All of these endangered wildlife were rescued at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station before being released.

The Elongated Tortoises were confiscated from an illegal trade case in November 2012 by Binh Phuoc Province FPD while the Gibbons were handed over to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station from illegal captivity in 2011 by Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong Provincial FPDs. Both of these species are classified as “endangered” in Vietnam Red Book.

The Civets were confiscated from illegal trade by Cu Chi District FPD, Ho Chi Minh City in April 2013, while the Owls were voluntarily handed over by a local people three months ago. In the wild, the individual numbers of Civets and Barn Owls are steadily reduced because of illegal hunting for pet and meat. The two species are facing the threat of extinction unless they are seriously protected.

Ho Chi Minh City, 21^st March, 2013 – About 200 individuals of Fighting Fish and Three-lined Rasbora were released to Ben Cat River- a tributary of Sai Gon River in Binh Thanh District. This number adds up to 1500 individuals of native fishes those have been released back to the wild since March 2011 by WAR. These fishes were bred in the programme titled “Breeding and releasing native fishes back to the wild” that was started in February 2010 by WAR, aiming to raise awareness of the public on native species conservation and to contribute directly to the City biodiversity.

Twenty students from four different universities in Ho Chi Minh City including University of Science, University of Economic, Marketing University and University of Agriculture and Forestry actively registered and participated in the releasing activity. The students excitingly learnt and discussed on how to take care of these fishes and how the activity contributes to biodiversity conservation. After releasing fishes, some students received Rasbora and Fighting Fishes for their aquariums at home.“Four native fish species have been successfully bred and released in this programme including Fighting Fish, Three-lined Rasbora, Rasbora and Croaking Gourami. WAR is now conducting further researches in order to breed and release more native fresh water fish species to the wild”, saidMr. Manh Bui Huu, Senior Conservation Officer – WAR.WAR is willing to provide technical supports and native fishes for any local people and students who are interested in raising and releasing native fishes.Please see more photos of this releasing activity here 

Dated 22^ndFebruary, 2013 – One individual of Monocellate Cobra (Naja kaouthia) and one individual of Radiated Rat Snake (Elaphe radiata) were successfully released back to the forest of Lo Go Xa Mat National Park, Tay Ninh Province. This is the first releasing in the year of the Snake which was conducted by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department (FPD).

These released snakes were voluntarily handed over to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) by Van Duc and Hoang Phap Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City in September and December last year. The snakes were taken good care and rehabilitated by WAR’s staff at Cu Chi WRS before being released. In Vietnam, the number of snakes in the wild is steadily reduced due to illegal hunting for alcoholic drink, and meat. Habitat destruction is also an important reason that pushes these species to the brink of extinction. 

Together with the two snakes, one individual of Burmese Ferret-badger (Melogale personata) and six Bengal monitors (Varanus bengalensis) were also released back to the forest. The Burmese ferret-badger was confiscated by Cu Chi District FPD while the Bengal monitors were confiscated by Binh Phuoc Province FPD. Both species are listed in Vietnam Red Book and need to be protected.By this releasing, WAR hope that people will be more friendly to wildlife, especially the snakes in this year of the Snake. 

Ngày 11 tháng 1 năm 2013 – Tổ chức WAR phối hợp với Vườn Quốc gia Cát Tiên thả thành công một cá thể Rái cá vuốt bé (Aonyx cinerea) và một cá thể Cầy vòi hương (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites). Cá thể Rái cá vuốt bé được Kiểm lâm Vườn Quốc gia Cát Tiên cứu hộ từ một vụ săn bắt trái phép hồi đầu năm nay. Còn cá thể Cầy vòi hương được Hạt Kiểm Lâm huyện Đạ Houai, tỉnh Lâm Đồng tịch thu từ vụ mu bán trái phép vào tháng 5/2012. Cả hai cá thể này được chăm sóc và phục hồi sức khoẻ tại Trạm Cứu hộ Gấu và Thú họ Mèo Cát Tiên trước khi trở về thiên nhiên.

Trong thời gian qua, số lượng Rái cá vuốt bé ngoài thiên nhiên ngày càng giảm mạnh vì nạn săn bắt trái phép làm cảnh, ăn thịt và lấy da. Cầy vòi hương là một trong những loài thường bị săn bắt, buôn bán làm thịt. Cả 2 loài này đều cần được bảo vệ

Ho Chi Minh City, 21 December 2012 – More than 150 individuals of native fishes including Three-lined Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata), Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) and Rasbora (Rasbora paviana) were released to Nhieu Loc Canal at Dien Bien Phu 2 Bridge, Binh Thanh District. Those fishes were bred in the programme titled “Breeding and releasing native fishes back to the wild” that started in February 2010 of WAR. 

In this releasing, more than 50 individuals of Three-lined Rasbora have been successfully bred and released back to the wild for the first time. This species is distributed in the south of Vietnam. It’s commonly found in slow water bodies such as lakes, swamps, streams and rivers. Three-lined Rasbora feeds on small insects, especially mosquito larva. It also feeds on floating foods including organic matters and thus it helps to clean domestic waste water. Under WAR’s supports, more than 20 members of the 350.org Vietnam Campaign participated in the releasing of these fishes. The activity aims to repopulate native fishes in the wild and encourage local people to use native fishes for aquariums. 
Female Three-lined Rasbora (up) and the male (down) ready to be released To date, over 1300 individuals of four native fish species including Fighting Fish, Croaking Gourami, Rasbora and Three-lined Rasbora have been released to tributaries of the Saigon River. WAR will continue this programme to breed and release more native species of fresh water fishes.You are encouraged to contact WAR for native fishes for your aquariums and useful consultations related to breeding and releasing native fishes.
Please download the press release here.

11^th December, 2012 – Ten individuals of endangered wildlife that weighed totally 57.5 kg including two individuals of King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), two Reticulated Pythons(Python reticulatus), one Burmese Python (Python molurus), four Endangered Monocellate Cobra (Naja kaouthia) and one adult Small Indian Civet (Viverricala indica) are successfully released to Cat Tien Nation Park by WAR in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department. The King Cobras were voluntarily handed over to CCWRS three months ago by Van Duc and Hoang Phap Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Others were either confiscated from illegal traded or handed voluntarily by local people. These released snakes and pythons are critical endangered and protected under Vietnamese Law.All of these individuals were rescued and rehabilitated at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station for several months before being released.  

WAR highly appreciates individuals and organisations for their great collaboration and contribution in rescuing and releasing Vietnam’s Endangered Wildlife

Kiên Giang, 15th November, 2012 –Wildlife At Risk (WAR) works with Phu Quoc National Park staff and the Management Board of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve to successfully release 62 Taylo’s Bug-eyed Frog (Theloderma stellatum) species. These individuals included 52 froglets (F1), which were captive bred from 10 parent frogs after being fed for two years at WAR’s head office since they were tadpoles. WAR hope this activity helps to improve the population of Chantaburi Warted Treefrog on Phu Quoc National Park.

At the same time, nine more endangered species including Burmese Python (Python molurus), Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Javan Pangolin (Manis javanica), AsiaticSoftshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea), Spotted-bill Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) and Small Asian Mongoose (Herpestes javanica), also were successfully released to U Minh Thuong National Park by WAR in collaboration with Kien Giang Forest Protection Department.All of these wild animals were in good health after being rescued and spent one to three months receiving rehabilitation at Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station.

Released Taylo’s Bug-eyed Frog (Theloderma stellatum)
These wildlife species can be found in the Mekong Delta region. Four of these species are listed in Vietnam Redbook, the Critically Endangered (Burmese Python), the Endangered species (Leopard Cat and Javan Pangolin) and the Vulnerable (Asiatic Softshell Turtle). Rescuing and releasing these wild animals back to the wild is a positive signal for the conservation and development not only in the U Minh Thuong National Park and Phu Quoc National Park, but also for the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve.