Ho Chi Minh City – Last night 28 April 2014, Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station received approximately 500 individuals of endangered wildlife includingReticulated Python(Python reticulatus), Burmese Python (Python molurus), Monocellated Cobra (Naja naja kaouthia), Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis nebulosus), Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), some species of snakes, birds and small mammals. These are endangered species listed in Vietnam Red Book or protected under Decree 32/2006 of the government.

The rescued wildlife were confiscated by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Environmental Crime Prevention and Fighting Police from an illegal trade case at Dong Thanh Commune, Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. After transferring the wildlife to Cu Chi WRS, WAR staff worked immediately till midnight to classify the wildlife.

 This morning 29 April 2014, the 400 individuals in good condition were released back to the wild. These included snakes and birds and small mammals those could adapt quickly to the wild. The rest are being taken care and rehabilitated at Cu Chi WRS and could be released in the wild. Never before, has Cu Chi WRS rescued such a huge number of wildlife. Nearly 1000 individuals of wildlife have been rescued since the beginning of this year. WAR highly appreciates functional bodies for their great efforts in saving endangered wildlife. We are looking forward for stronger supports from everyone in wildlife rescuing activities in the future.

On the 1^st November 2013, Wildlife At Risk (WAR) received 24 individuals of King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah), weighing nearly 52 kg total, from Ho Chi Minh City Police. One day later, WAR received 11 King Cobra, weighing over 26kg, from Police of Tan Bien District, Tay Ninh Province. All of these King Cobras are evidences of two wildlife trade cases in Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh District.

Ho Chi Minh City Police handing King Cobras to WAR staffThe King Cobras are now being taken care of at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station while waiting for the cases to be judged. After that, they might be released back to the wild. As King Cobra feeds on snakes, each individual of King Cobra at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station needs a separate enclosure. This huge number of King Cobra rescued this time creates a pressure for the Station, concerning its current capacity. In order to provide enough stay for each King Cobra, a new area for rescuing King Cobra is being constructed shortly at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.

We would like to thanks government offices, companies and individuals who are supporting us rescue endangered wildlife of Vietnam. 

Kien Giang, 31 July 2013 – Three individuals of sea turtle including one Hawksbill (Eretmochelys  imbricata) weighing three kilogrammes and two Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) weighing totally 20.5 kg were rescued from a local household in Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province.

Three rescued Sea TurtlesTwo days ago, WAR was reported by a local people from Rach Gia City that three individuals of sea turtle were being illegally captured at a household on Lam Quang Ky Street, Rach Gia City. WAR immediately requested Kien Giang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Forest Protection Department to investigate and confiscate this case. According to the investigation, the three sea turtles had been kept for four years and would be sold soon. Persuaded by local functional authorities, the owner agreed to hand over the endangered turtles to WAR for rescuing. Currently, the three sea turtles are being carefully taken care of at Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station. Once being healthy and getting ready, the sea turtles will be released back to the sea.

There are five species of sea turtles in Vietnam and all of them are endangered species due to its commercial values. Sea turtles are often illegally hunted for meat, pet and decoration purposes. Both Hawksbill and Green Turtle are listed in the IUCN and Vietnam Red Books. Any form of hunting and trading of these endangered species is strictly prohibited.

Ho Chi Minh City, dated 6^th March 2013 – Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) received one male and one female of Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) from a local people from Vinh An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City. The cats those weighed nearly seven kilograms total were fairly healthy and still be wild behaviour. Once being rehabilitated, the cats will be released to its suitable habitats.

 To date, Cu Chi WRS has been successfully rescued and released 12 individuals of leopard cat. Most of them were confiscated from illegal wildlife trade.Leopard cat feeds on small mammals, birds and other small animals. Each individual has its own territory. It normally stays away from civilization areas. However, due to its soft and beautiful fur, Leopard Cat is being hunted severely for fashion and decoration purposes. It is also hunted for meat and medicine. The number of leopard cat in nature is degrading steadily.  

Leopard cat is protected under 32-HĐBT Decree, in which hunting and trading of the species in any form is prohibited. WAR recommends that people should not purchase leopard cat for any purpose. If you are noticed of leopard cat and other endangered wild animals being captured, illegally traded or consumed, please call WAR’s hotline: 0976 06 76 46 or contact WAR’s rescued facilities .

KienGiang, dated 5^thJuly, 2013 – Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) received a female Pygmy Loris(Nycticebus pygmaeus), weighing 150 grams from Can Tho Forest Protection Department (FPD). Wildlife At Risk (WAR) cooperated with Kien Giang FPD to rescue this individual. After almost nine hours travel by car, this Loris had been transferred safely to Hon Me WRS.

Rescued Pygmy LorisArriving Hon Me WRS, the animal was isolated and taken good care for health recovery. In the future, this Loriswill be rehabilitated and be ready for possible releasing back to the wild. Currently, Hon Me WRS are housing five Pygmy Loris. Of which, four were transferred from Cu Chi WRS. This is the first time Hon Me WRS have received this endangered species from an other province. This activity marked initial collaboration of Hon Me WRS and other provinces in the Mekong Delta. Pygmy Loris is one endangered primate that is listed as vulnerable species (VU) in the Vietnam Red Book. Thespecies’ population in the wild has been steady reduced due to habitat loss and illegal hunting for pet. Let’sLoris live in its natural habitats.

Ho Chi Minh City, 28^th May 2013 –Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) for the first time has received two individuals of Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) and four individuals of Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) of which four are males and the left are females. They are confiscated from an illegal trade facility in Phu Tho Hoa Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), by Ha Noi Environmental Police in cooperation with HCMC Environmental Police and Forest Protection Department.

Rescued wild peafowls All peafowls are in good health with beautiful shining plumages. The two Green Peafowls will be released soon to a suitable habitat in the south of Vietnam. The four Blue Peafowls which origin from India could not be released to the wild in Vietnam. They will be retained at Cu Chi WRS for educational purposes until appropriate solution is identified. Green Peafowls especially mature males have unique colourful plumage and thus often hunted illegally for pet and sometime for meat. The number of wild peafowls is declining sharply. The species is listed as endangered species (EN) with high risk of extinction in the Vietnam Red Book. 

Also in late May, WAR worked with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department to rescue and transfer two endangered Moon Bears (Ursus thibetanus) from Binh Thuan Province to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station. These bears had been captured in two tiny cages for more than 20 years. They were pretty weak and exhausted at rescue time. One of them lost one fore-paw; possibly because of a snare trap. The bears are now closely watched by WAR staff in order to improve its’ health.

Ho Chi Minh City, 17th March 2012 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) works with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department and Hoang Phap Pagoda to rescue and safely transfer a crocodile, which could be a critically endangered Siamese Crocodile. This is the first time WAR has successfully transferred a crocodile to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS)”.

The crocodile measuring 2m length and weighing roughly 30kg. Two years ago, a local person living in District 7, HCMC bought this crocodile in Dong Thap province and kept it at home. She decided to donate the crocodile to the Hoang Phap Pagoda for “good-luck releasing”. After a discussion with Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department, Hoang  Phap Pagoda decided to hand over this crocodile to CCWRS.

Siamese Crocodiles are the world’s fourth most endangered crocodilian species and are classified as “critically endangered”. They are also listed in the Vietnams’ Red Book. Although the Siamese Crocodile have been raised successfully in several farms throughout Vietnam, it’s only found in one location in the wild, Cat Tien National Park.

WAR staff at CCWRS conducted health check and quarantine this crocodile right when it’s arrived. The Crocodile will be carefully taken care of in order to be ready for being releasing to its right habitat.

After the crocodile was successfully transferred to CCWRS, Mr. Thich Tam Hue – president of the Hoang Phap Pagoda who is a superior Buddhist monk along with other Buddhist monks visited CCWRS and voluntarily handed a King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) of 4.5m length and weighing about 10kg to the rescue station. This King Cobra was also transferred to the Pagoda by a local citizen for good-luck releasing. In the future after quarantine, this King Cobra will also released back to the wild where they belong

WAR does not encourage the purchasing of endangered wildlife for good-luck releasing. However, WAR highly appreciates the cooperation of pagodas and temples donating wildlife to the CCWRS that will eventually be released back to the wild.

Ho Chi Minh City, 1^st November, 2012 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) works with Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries Quality Assurance and Aquatic Resources Protection Department to successfully rescue one Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) weighing roughly 12 kg. This species, which is classified as “Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Book, is being pushed towards extinction by the illegal trade of wildlife and is protected under Vietnamese Law and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

A local resident found the turtle being sold illegally in an aquarium shop in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. The resident immediately phoned the WAR hot line and managed to persuade the shop owner to voluntarily hand over the turtle to WAR staff. The turtle was successfully transferred to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS) and is now receiving the proper care it needs and after rehabilitation, it can be released back to the wild.On the same day, WAR received more wild species from local police in Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, including four Flying Squirrels (Hylopestes sp.), one Indochinese Ground Squirrel (Menetes berdmorei), two Red-bellied Tree Squirrels (Callosciurus flavimanus), one Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) and one Shikra (Accipiter badius). All of these species were safely transferred to the CCWRS for rehabilitation and possible releasing back to the wild in near future.