14th April, 2012 – Two critically endangered King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) weighing roughly 30kg were successfully released to Cat Tien National Park by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Forest Protection Department of Ho Chi Minh City. One Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensiss) and five Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) were also released. The President and other Buddhist monks from the Hoang Phap Pagoda, Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City and journalists of La7 TV Channel from Italy joined WAR staff on releasing these endangered species back where they belong. The two King Cobras were bought and transferred to the Pagoda by a Ho Chi Minh City resident for “good-luck” releasing. The Buddhist monks from the Hoang Phap Pagoda decided to hand over the King Cobras to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS) one month ago. This is the first time the pagoda has joined WAR released endangered animals to the wild. .

Buddhist monks pray for the animals before releasing-©WAR King Cobras and Leopard Cats are both threatened with extinction and classified as “critically endangered”. They are rarely found in wild due to habitat destruction but mainly due to the illegal wildlife trade.  ElongatedTortoises are also being pushed to the brink of extinction and could soon face extinction unless they were protected.  “This is the first time, a pagoda in Ho Chi Minh has joined WAR releasing wildlife back to the wild. The King Cobras and Leopard Cat were handed over voluntarily to CCWRS. This is a good signal that shows increasing public awareness in rescuing and releasing endangered wildlife back to the wild.”said Mr.Lam Le Xuan, Manager of CCWRS.Wildlife At Risk wishes to thank the Buddhist monks from Hoang Phap Pagoda and highly appreciates individuals for their collaboration and contribution in saving Vietnam’s Endangered Wildlife.

March 2012 – Wildlife At Risk corporates with Cuc Phuong Turtle Rescue Center released 83 individuals of the Elongated Tortoise, Giant Asian Turtle and Asian Box Turtle species to Lo Go Xa Mat National Park, Tay Ninh Province. These endangered turtles were rescued at Cuc Phuong Turtle Rescue Center in the north before transferring to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station for a few days before being released back to the wild.

After four days travelling by train from Cuc Phuong Turtle Rescue Center to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, these turtles were carefully checked to make sure that they are healthy enough to be released. Fortunately, after three days at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, all 83 individuals are able to be released to the wild.

Although Lo Go Xa Mat National Park is about 1,600km away from Cuc Phuong Turtle Rescue Center, it is selected to release the turtles because this is the appropriate habitat of these endangered species.

“This is the first time Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station has cooperated with Cuc Phuong Turtle Rescue Center to save endangered turtles. We are looking forward further cooperations with other rescue stations throughout the country in order to save more endangered wildlife”, said Mr.Lam Le Xuan, Manager of Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.

Huyen Do – Lam Le Xuan

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.

Ho Chi Minh City, 18th December 2011 – Instructed and supported by Wildlife at Risk (WAR), more than 20 members of the C4E (Cycling for Environment) Club rode bicycles to release native fishes to the wild. This activity aims to call for local people to use native fishes for aquariums and to contribute to repopulating this species. It also raises public awareness on energy saving and environmental protection.

Started from Tao Dan Park, C4E members cycled through HCMC’s major streets and visited WAR Office where native fishes were being bred. They carried slogans that drew attention of the public on utilisation of native fishes in aquariums, good luck releasing, as well as environmental protection. Over 250 native rasbora (Rasbora paviana) were released to a tributary of Sai Gon River under Cau Den Bridge in District 2. These fishes were bred in the programme titled “Breeding and release native fishes to the wild” that was partly supported by LIN (Center for Community Development).

Rasbora species are relatively common.This species of rasbora is able to live in seriously polluted water. It could also survive in small closed water sources during the dry season. As this fish feeds on organic matters, it is able to clean organic substances from domestic waste water.

According to Mr. Manh Bui Huu, Senior Conservation Officer – WAR: “For good luck releasing or home aquariums, people should use these native fishes instead of imported ones. This action contributes to repopulating native fishes. We are grateful that more and more residents of HCMC are contacting WAR for native fishes for their home aquariums.”

Ho Chi Minh City, 30th June 2011– Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department and Nui Chua National Park, Binh Thuan Province successfully released twelve endangered sea turtles to Bai Ngang beach, Nui Chua National Park. Journalists from Binh Thuan Province and Ho Chi Minh City also joined this activity.

These twelve individuals of sea turtle that includes eleven hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and one green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were rescued by WAR and authorities from Suoi Tien Culture Tourist Park on 20th of June 2011.

“These individuals are healthy and mature, so they have recovered in the short time. After medical evaluation, Staff from Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS) have decided to choose this location for releasing them because it has not only suitable habitat and food sources for them but also holds the Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Department”, said Mr. Le Xuan Lam, Manager of CCWRS.

Before releasing, all of these individuals were numbered to monitor them in the wild.

Ho Chi Minh City, 29 June 2011 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Khan Quang Do Magazine have conducted native fish releasing activity to Sai Gon River. Over 100 native fighting fish (Betta imbellis) were released to Ben Cat river, Binh Thanh District, a tributary of Sai Gon River. This activity was carried out by nearly 20 members of “I love nature” Club – aged from 12 to 15 and journalist in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Releasing native fish to the wild” is a periodical activity in the programme named “Breeding and release native fish back to nature” since February 2010 of WAR, aiming to raise awareness of students and residents about native species protection and contribute directly to nature conservation.

Mr. Bui Huu Manh, Conservation officer, said: “Ben Cat river is bigger than Cau Son canal which native fish were released before. This place is chosen to release fish in order to understand survival ability of this species in different habitat. This will be evaluated in the future.”

Besides Betta spp., WAR also studies other native fish for the same purposes and encourages using them for aquariums.

In the future, WAR continues to conduct the programme. HCMC residents and students who are interested in releasing activity can contact us to receive native fish for aquariums, releasing or consultancy about useful information on wildlife releasing and conservation.

Over 100 fresh water fish (Betta sp.) which were bred in the programme “Breeding and release of native fish back to nature” from Wildlife At Risk (WAR) were released into the canal under the Red Bridge (Cau Do), a tributary of the Saigon River. Participated in the releasing activity are more than 20 people including members of the club “I love Nature”, Red scarf Magazine (aged 12-15), and volunteers who are university students from Ho Chi Minh City.

Individual numbers of many species of fresh water fish are steadily reducing due to water pollution. Fish that are not exploited for commercial purposes do not get enough attention, even though they are disappearing. This is a great loss to the ecosystem and species diversity in Vietnam.

In order to maintain this genetic diversity and the natural balance, WAR has been conducting a survey on these non-commercial native species in order to breed and release them into the wild since February. Many of these fish can be used as ornamentals. Species in this programme include the Crescent betta, Lambchop rasbora, Blackline rasbora, and Pygmy gourami. These species were collected during WAR’s survey programme in Lam Dong and Dong Nai provinces, Phu Quoc island, and U Minh Thuong National Park.

Most of the ornamental fish and lucky fish released in Ho Chi Minh City and other big cities in Vietnam are imported. After a while, these fish are released or escape to the wild and become invasive species, or species that compete with the native ones. WAR encourages the use of native fish for ornamental fish and the release of these species because they do not disturb the ecosystem when released to the wild.

These Beta species that are distributed in the south of Vietnam are able to tolerate water with lower oxygen and pollution thanks to their ability to absorb oxygen from the air. They can also survive in the polluted waters where no other fish species can survive. In addition, the favourite food of this species is small animals, especially mosquito larva. Some decades ago, this species was quite common in the inner and outer areas of Ho Chi Minh City. However, together with urbanisation, the habitat of these species including canals, marshes, and ponds have been lost. Additionally, the water is so polluted that these species become very rare in the city.

 “The breeding and release of these fish to the wild not only helps to improve the population of the native fish in the basin of the Saigon River, but also helps to reduce mosquito larva and thus the mosquito, including those causing dengue fever and other diseases” said Mr. Bui Huu Manh, Senior Conservation Officer, WAR.

This activity of releasing fish helps the students to understand the importance of native species protection. It also directs the students toward environment protection through their daily activities. Before releasing the fish, the students also collected all the garbage at the site.

In the future, WAR will continue the programme of breeding and release of native fish species that are not exploited for commercial purposes but can be used for aquariums.

Photos of the releasing fish activity can be viewed here.