More native fishes released to the wild

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.

Release critical endangered snakes and pythons

11th 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

Endangered wild animals successfully released to the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve

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.

Successful release of thirty-five endangered wildlife individuals back to the wild

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.

Endangered Gibbon returns back to Central Highlands forest

Kon Tum, 11th 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

Critically endangered King Cobras released back to the forest

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 CCWRSThis 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.

Cooperation to release more than 80 endangered turtles back to the wild

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

More than 200 native fish released back to the wild

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.

Riding bicycles and releasing native fishes to the wild

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.”

Released twelve “endangered” sea turtles back to the wild successfully

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.

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