18^th April 2012– Wildlife At Risk (WAR) works with Kien Giang Forest Protection Department to successfully rescue three Javan Pangolins (Manis javanica). They were confiscated by the Kien Luong District Forest Protection Department, then safely transferred to the Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station (HMWRS). The pangolins are in good health each weighing roughly 5 kgs. They are currently being well cared for by WAR staff at the rescue facility. 

According to the Viet Nam Red Book, Javan Pangolins are classified as “endangered species” with a high risk of extinction. Since the early 1990’s, the number of wild pangolins has seriously decreased due to the illegal hunting and trading for its meat and demand for traditional medicines. Previously, when Kien Giang FPD confiscated illegal wildlife there was nowhere for them to trasfer the species, now the HMWRS is fully functional, rescued wildlife in the Mekong Delta Region can be cared for and successfully rehabilitated for potential release back to the wild. Once these three Pangolins have received successful rehabilitation and been cleared by our professional trained Veterinarian staff, they will soon be released back to the wild where they belong. The HMWRS is now open to the public, to visit please contact WAR atinfo@wildlifeatrisk.org, or visit our website at here Lan Ho Thi Kim – Simon Faithfull

8th February 2012 – Four Moon Bears, one male and three females, were handed voluntarily to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station by a business man from Binh Duong province.  Taken care by WAR’s staff, these bears are now looking forward for a new chapter in their lives.

All four bears were in bad condition when being preliminarily examined by the staff. One bear lost one paw. It is most likely that the paw was lost in a snare trap or has been cut off for use in traditional Chinese medicine. This bear also has no hair on its back due to a kind of fungi. Other three are quite aggressive. Currently, all four bears are carefully watched by the veterinarian and zoo keeper at the station. It is estimated that the four bears will soon getting better and enjoy a much better condition in the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.

Sadly, despite how better the four bears will be doing, it’s likely that they will never be released to the wild. These bears were kept for more than ten years in small concrete cages and perhaps they have been milked for bile all that time. This makes the bears lost its wild instincts and not be able to earn food and thus survive in the wild. Also, when released to the wild, captured bears intent to go look for food at civil area and they might be hunted and captured again.

These bears and other animals at the station those can never be released to the wild are great lesson for the audience to appreciate wildlife and urge them to be willing to help us save the wildlife.

We hope you join us save the bears!

17 November 2011 – Staff from Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Binh Phuoc Provincial Forest Protection Department and Binh Phuoc polices successfully rescue and release seven King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) to Cat Tien National Park. 

These King cobras were rescued while being traded illegally over the border from Cambodia. The illegal trader was arrested by Forest Protection Department officials and Local Police officials from Binh Phuoc Province on 15th November 2011. If prosecuted he could face up to seven years in prison.

King cobra is critically endangered species and has become quite rare in Vietnam due to illegal hunting and trading. 

WAR highly appreciates Binh Phuoc officials for their decisive actions in arresting the trader and saving Vietnam’s Endangered Wildlife.

Ho Chi Minh City, 19th July 2011 – Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS) of Wildlife At Risk (WAR) received a large number of monitor lizards and turtles. This is the first time WAR has received the biggest individuals since the beginning of 2011.

Thirty-seven of elongated tortoises (Testudo elongata), two orange-headed temple turtles (Heosemys grandis), one yellow-headed temple turtles (Hieremys annandalii) and six bengal monitors (Varanus bengalensis) with the total weight of 51.8 kgs (included 38.1 kgs of turtles and 13.8 kgs of monitors) are the result of a confiscation from an illegal wildlife transport. Currently, this case is being investigated by authorities.

Arcording to Viet Nam Red Book, orange-headed temple turtles are classified as vulnerable (VU), other three species are classified as endangered (EN). These species are being pushed to the brink of extinction in the near future.

Staff from WAR efforts to rescue these forty-six individuals in CCWRS.

Ho Chi Minh City, 20th June 2011 – Staff from Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries Quality Assurance and Aquatic Resources Protection Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Forest Protection Department of Ho Chi Minh City have successfully rescued twelve endangered sea turtles from Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Park in District 9.

A total of 11 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and one green turtle (Chelonia mydas) weighing between 3.8 – 27 kgs were being kept at Suoi Tien on display for the general public. All the worlds seven species are classified as “endangered species” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Both hawksbill and green turtles are being pushed towards extinction by the illegal trade of wildlife and are protected under Vietnamese Law.

Representatives from Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Park were eventually persuaded by local governmental officials to hand the endangered turtles over to WAR staff to be successfully transferred to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS).

The twelve sea turtles will stay at CCWRS for further rehabilitation, medical evaluation for a short while before they’re released back to the wild. Visit the rescue station soon to see these amazing reptiles and show your support to Vietnams’ endangered wildlife.

WAR wants to remind everyone never buy or consume any wildlife products and report wildlife crimes.

Early morning on the 21^st November 2008, conservationists from Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and government officials from the Forest Protection Department worked to together to safely transfer an endangered cat from the illegal wildlife trade, an “Asian Leopard” Panthera pardus.

Staff from the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS) traveled 200kms south to the Mekong Delta town of Vinh Long where they were confronted by a 35kg apex predator. The gentleman keeping the leopard boosted that he had bought the cat from a trader in neighboring Cambodia as a cub and brought her over the border 3 years ago.

After several hours the sedated leopard was safely brought to her new home – CCWRS where she remained for almost two years being cared for by dedicated conservationists.

On 31^st May 2010, after the successful completion of her brand new home in Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province. She was eventually transferred from CCWRS to a large enclosure, which was specially built for her, roughly 150m2 of semi natural environment complete with climbing frames, concrete tubes and a secure off-limits area.

“Lucy”- new name of the Leopard, will now remain here for her remaining life, she can never be released back to wild due to the fact she has no real natural hunting skills, very little fear of humans and no suitable habitat.

If you want to see Lucy, then please visit Cat Tien ational Park and staff from Wildlife At Risk (WAR) will be happy to show you around their wildlife rescue facility.

WAR urges everyone “Never buy or consume any wildlife products, keep wildlife – WILD”.

Ho Chi Minh City, 25 March 2011 – Two individuals of the endangered Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon (Hylobates gabriellae) was successfully rescued from an illegal capture in District 12, by the Mobile Team (HCMC Forest Protection Department) and Wildlife At Risk.

The owner of the two Gibbons which origins from Cambodia, received them 20 years ago as a gift. Since then, the gibbons have been kept in a cramped cage of about six square meters. They were fed mainly with rice, meat and sometimes even beer, while favourite diet of a Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon includes fruits, young leaves, insect and bird eggs. Due to these improper cares, the two individuals are exhausted with malnutrition and prolonged diarrhea.

“”After being reported, the Mobile team worked with the owner and decided to rescue the two gibbons and handed over them successfully to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS).

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thai – Veterinarian at CCWRS, “These gibbons are the weakest individuals those the Station have ever rescued. It might take a long time for these endangered gibbons to be recovered and rehabilitated for a life in the wild.

Currently, the gibbons are getting better and they are being used to the new and much more comfortable stay at the Station. You can visit and support the two gibbons at Cu Chi Wildlife Resscue Station.