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.

Amongst the 35 released individuals, the two King Cobras that weighed roughly 23.7 kg both were handed over voluntarily to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) by Van Duc Pagoda three months ago. The nine Elongated Tortoises that were born at Cu Chi WRS were also released back to the wild. The other species were confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade or illegal captivity. All of these individuals are endangered species and protected under Vietnamese Law.

Buddhist monks pray for the animals before releasing

Release King cobras and other species back to the forest 

WAR highly appreciates the Buddhist monks from Van Duc Pagoda and other individuals for their collaboration in saving Vietnam’s Endangered Wildlife.

Kon Tum, 11^th May 2012 – A male Northern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon (Nomascus annamensis) was rescued from Chu Mom Ray National Park in Kon Tum Province in Central Highlands was successfully released back to the forest where he belongs. 

Five months ago, Professor Vu Ngoc Thanh – A representative of the Douc Langur Foundation (DLF) found this gibbon captured in a household on the buffer zone of Chu Mom Ray National Park. According to the owner, the Gibbon was hunted in Chu Mom Ray’s forest a year ago and has been kept since then. The Gibbon was then rescued by WAR staff and transferred to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS) where it received health checks and proper care. The gibbon was successfully rehabilitated and released back to the forest. 

WAR staff, Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department Officer, Chu Mom Ray National Park  staff and a representative from the DLF crossed slippery roads due to heavy rain the night before, walking deep into the dense forest of Chu Mom Ray National Park to release the Gibbon. Right after being released, the Gibbon eagerly climbed into high branches and sit there seeing off the staff. According to Profession Vu Ngoc Thanh, “This successful rescue and release of this endangered gibbon shows effective cooperation between DLF project and Chu Mom Ray National Park. Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station will be chosen for future rescue activities of the Project and the Park”. Do Huyen – Khoi Nguyen Vu