May 2013 – One individual of Onychophora (Eoperipatus sp.)belonging to Peripatidae Phylum was recorded by Vietnamese and international scientists of Wildlife At Risk (WAR) in a forest of Quang Ngai Province. This is the second time, Onychophora has been recorded in Vietnam. This discovery was announced openly to international community on some international magazine.
The Onychophora recorded in Quang Ngai Jungle
In 2010, the Onychophora had been recorded for the first time at Bau Sau, Cat Tien National Park. The species was recored as new species for Vietnam. Since then, no more individual of the Onychophora has been recorded till WAR’s survey in June 2012 at Quang Ngai province. The individual was found under a small rotten log at the altitude of 1055m in a tropical evergreen forest at the provincial boundary of Quang Ngai and Kon Tum.
The discovery of the Onychophora is an indicator of rich biodiversity of the Annamite at Quang Ngai and Kon Tum Provinces. In the coming time, WAR will cooperate with scientists announces further results of biodiversity surveys in the area. .
Please see detail of the announcement of the Onychophora here.
Ho Chi Minh City, dated 22 May 2013 – On the occasion of the World Biodiversity Day 2013, Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and Khan Quang Do magazine launched two computer games on wildlife protection for the public in general, especially children aged 12-15 years old. These two games titled “Wildlife Savior” and “Guess my name” are developed from the awarded ideas of the contest on Initiating computer game idea entitled “Call of the forest”, organised by WAR and Khan Quang Do Magazine from September to November last year.
Game “Wildlife Savior” is developed from the first prize idea of Nguyen Phuong Anh, 14 years old girl. This game helps players to identify threats to wildlife as well as positive actions that everyone should take to save wildlife. In this three minute game, players need to quickly eliminate objects representing threats to wildlife. Message of the game is strengthen by the song titled “NO” that gained Vietnam Record for the “Biggest chorus in Vietnam” (Campaign “Speak up to save the forest”, 2010).
Guess my name
Wildlife Savior
Game “Guess my name” is developed from the runner up prized idea of Nguyen Dang Khoa, 14 years old boy. In this game, players look at photos of wildlife in the wild and guess common names of the wildlife. The game helps players identify wildlife and thus encourages love to wildlife and nature. Happy music of the game supports players to imagine of a beautiful wildlife world.
The two games are now available on WAR’s website in both English and Vietnamese at following links.
“WAR believes that computer game – one of the most favourable entertainments among youngsters, is an effective way to connect the youth to wildlife world. The two games help players to learn about wildlife and thus encourage their love to the nature and evoke commitment to nature protection”, said Ms. Huyen Do Thi Thanh – Wildlife Education Manager, WAR.
In the coming time, more computer games will be developed and uploaded onto WAR website. Let’s play these educational games and join WAR save Vietnam’s endangered wildlife.
Please see press release about the two games here.
The book titled “Introduction of some Birds of Vietnam” that was partly supported by Wildlife At Risk (WAR), authored by Doctor Le Manh Hung – Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources was published in October 2012 in Vietnamese. This photography book describes over 50 percent of wild bird species in Vietnam. The book is for anyone who loves and would like to learn about Vietnam wild birds.
The author and the book
This 585 page book, describes 532 species of 90 families of Vietnam wild birds. More than 840 live photos and 500 distribution maps, together with a brief description of each species help readers to identify wild birds in the nature easily.
All photos in this book had been taken by the author since 2006 during hundreds of bird watching trips to different habitats of Vietnam, from Fansipan Mountain Peak (Hoang Lien National Park, Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province), Chu Yang Sin Mountain Peak (Chu Yang Sin National Park, Daklak Province), to the Southern end of Vietnam (Ca Mau Bird Garden, Ca Mau Province) and on Eastern islands (Con Dao National Park, Vung Tau Province), and etc.
The book was consulted and commented by international and national experts and organisations. Especially, the material was designed by WAR using open source software such as Scribus, GIMP, GRASS GIS on Linux Fedora 13 for a tight and reader friendly layout.
“The book not only provides update and additional information related to species records and distribution, but also fosters people’s love to the Vietnam wild birds and thus contributes to raise public’s awareness of the importance of wild animals in general and wild birds in particular”, shared Mr. Le Manh Hung.
Snake is one of the most frequent consumed wildlife in Vietnam. Many snake species are in the brink of extinction due to illegal hunting for alcoholic drink and bush meat. Fortunately, hundreds of endangered snake individuals have been successfully rescued by Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) that is managed by Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department. On the occasion of the New Year of the Snake, Mr. Lam Le Xuan – Manager of Cu Chi WRS reveals interesting stories related to snake rescuing.
How long have you been working for Cu Chi WRS? I have been working for Cu Chi WRS for six years since the Station was upgraded and supported by WAR.
Mr. Lam Le Xuan – Manager of Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station and the mutated Radiated Rat Snake.
A King Cobras is being released to the forest of Cat Tien National Park
Among more than 3000 endangered wildlife individuals rescued and released by Cu Chi WRS, how many snakes have you rescued?
A few hundreds of endangered snakes have been successfully rescued. Only in 2012, nearly 80 individuals of nine species were successfully released back to the wild; including critically endangered species such as King Cobra, Kraits, Monocellate Cobra, and Asian Cobra…
Where did those snakes come from?
Like other rescued wildlife at Cu Chi WRS, most of those snakes were seized from illegal trading and transporting by ranger bodies. Some of them were handed voluntarily by local people and pagoda in HCMC. Most of the snakes were exhausted; many have disease, mouth sealed or scales lost.
Where did the snakes released after being rehabilitated?
The rehabilitated snakes were released to its suitable habitats in strictly protected forests of national parks and protected areas.
What is the heaviest snake that you have rescued? That is an individual of King Cobra handed by Hoang Phap pagoda in early 2012. It weighs 14kg. What is the longest snake that you have rescued? It’s an individual of King Cobra that was seized from an illegal trade. It’s 5.2m length.
What is the most impressive rescued snake for you?
In December last year, we rescued a very strange snake. Its skin was totally white. We know that it’s a Radiated Rat Snake. The white skin could be a type of gene mutation because the species normally has yellow skin.
What is happening to wild snakes? Snakes are often hunted and killed for alcoholic drink and meat. In addition, due to habitat destruction, snakes had to seek for other suitable quiet homes in pagoda, temple, and house and grassland in civil areas. Thus they are chased and killed. This pushes many endangered snakes to the brink of extinction.
What do you want to tell people about snake protection in the year of the snakes?
In special occasions such as Lunar New Year Festival, snake and other endangered wildlife are often consumed. I hope that people will celebrate the New Year of the Snake in a manner that doesn’t harm the snakes at all. Let’s join WAR protect endangered snakes before it’s too late!
Ho Chi Minh City, dated 13rd January 2013 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) cooperated with Khan Quang Do magazine to award 17 best ideas for computer games of the contest entitled “Call of the Forest”. This awarding ceremony is to praise the best game ideas and to raise awareness of children and the public of endangered wildlife in Vietnam.
Participated in the ceremony were approximately 200 people including secondary school children, members of themed clubs from Khan Quang Do magazine, representatives of Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department, District Department of Education and Trainings, conservationists, leaders and staff of WAR and Khan Quang Do magazine, and media.
Focusing on protection of endangered wildlife, the contest that lasted for three months from 5th September to 30th November 2012 had received over 400 ideas from children aged 11-15 years old in Ho Chi Minh City.The first prize was given to Anh Nguyen Phuong, a 14 years old girl from Nguyen Du Secondary School, Ho Chi Minh City with the idea titled “Hero of the forest”. In this game idea, the players have to quickly identify and eliminate threats to wildlife. The game not only educates players about threats to wildlife but also encourages them to take positive actions toward wildlife protection. This exciting game was also played at the ceremony.
According to Mrs. Huyen Do Thi Thanh, WAR’s Wildlife Education Manager: “This contest creates an opportunity for children to learn and act for wildlife in the way that most children like i.e. computer games. WAR hopes that children will love the computer games developed from those ideas, and through playing those games, they will have better understanding of wildlife and willing to act to save the nature.”
“Through innocent and creative eyes of children, wild nature was captured in a vivid way in those game ideas. The computer games developed from those ideas will be educative exciting and attractive for secondary school children”, said Mr.Cuong Nguyen Khac, Editor in Chief of Khan Quang Do Magazine.In the coming time, some computer games developed from those ideas will be uploaded onto website of WAR and Khan Quang Do magazine.
These games will help to create a healthy playground for the children toward the wildlife protection.Please download the press release here.
To view some photos of the ceremony, please click here.
Ho Chi Minh City, September 2012 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) cooperated with Khan Quang Do magazine, to launch a competition that submitting the ideas for wildlife computer games titled “Call of the forest” for all children aged 11 to 15 years old, throughout Vietnam, from 5th September to 30th November 2012. This contest is part of the programme titled “Take part in Nature Protection year 2012”, implemented by WAR and Khan Quang Do magazine.Focusing on “Saving Vietnam’s endangered wildlife”, the competition gave students the opportunity to satisfy their creativity, by highlighting the beauty and value of
Vietnams’wildlife as well as the threats to wildlife and the important messages calling for action, to help protect endangered species. This competition also gave children a healthy and attractive playground that fits the learning needs and the computer usages today. Mrs. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Wildlife Education Manager –WAR, commented: “The best game ideas may be considered for completion before being loaded on WAR’s website. We hope this will help raise awareness amongst young children and the public that highlights the importance of wildlife protection. Through these games, everyone can see the beauty of Vietnam’s wildlife, but also learn about threats to these unique species. We hope that these games will encourage people to help WAR save endangered species and save them from possible extinction.” The award ceremony will be organised as part of the program, “Take part in Nature Protection year 2012” at the end of December, 2012. Also, the 50 best drawing paintings that were part of the drawing contest about, conservation of the Javan Rhino and other endangered species, implemented by WAR and Khan Quang Do magazine in 2001, will also be displayed at the ceremony. Contest regulations, and information about Javan Rhino’s and other endangered species will be published in Khan Quang Do magazine once the competition has started. You can download the contest regulations here or at www.muctim.com.vn
6th September, 2012 – An illegal trade network of dugongs (Dugong dugon) on Phu Quoc Island was detected by Wildlife At Risk (WAR). These illegal trading activities also include other endangered marine wildlife.
A few days before, local people on Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province informed WAR that an individual dugong weighing about 100 kg was killed and sold to local restaurants. WAR immediately conducted an investigation and has confirmed that the reported information is true.
A piece of Dugong skin sold on Phu Quoc Island in August 2012
A piece of Dugong skin sold on Phu Quoc Island in August 2012 After being caught, the dugong was killed on the ship and sold to an intermediary trader in Duong Dong Town who used to sell seafood at Duong Dong market. This woman’s name is Ms. Be. Dugong meat and skin was delivered directly to retail traders or restaurants on Phu Quoc Island. Retail prices for dugong meat ranges from 400,000 VND to 550,000 VND per kilogram. In recent months, it’s quite regular that this trader sells Dugong meat at the Duong Dong Town.
Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal species. An adult Dugong is about 3 metres long and can weigh 450 kilograms. They feed on sea grass and other marine plants. Due to slow moving and large body, Dugongs get easily stuck in fishing nets and many drown. This species is also intensively hunted not only for food but also for traditional medicine or jewelry purposes.Dugongs are classified as critically endangered in the Vietnam Red Book and listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red Book. According to WWF, in 2003, Phu Quoc and Con Dao are the only two marine places in Vietnam that have Dugongs, with an estimated total of no more than 100.
Dugongs are not the only marine species being traded; endangered sea turtles such as Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) are often caught and sold to restaurants on the island with retail price ranging from 200,000VND to 450,000 VND per kilogram. The investigation also revealed that this illegal trading network of dugong parts used to work quite openly. Since dugong and marine resource conservation activities were applied, this trading network has been operating more secretly. WAR has just officially requested functional authorities of Phu Quoc Island to confiscate this illegal trading network of dugongs and other endangered marine wildlife. WAR has also committed to support conservation activities of Phu Quoc’s marine resources in the coming months.
WAR highly appreciates the local residents on Phu Quoc Island who have cooperated with WAR in the process of detecting this illegal trading network. We are looking forward to receiving wildlife crime reports to WAR’s hotline at: 0976 06 76 46.
Ho Chi Minh City, 24th July 2012 – A Javan Pangolin (Manis javanica) was born at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS).The baby pangolin that’s weighed roughly 300 gram and covered by soft scales is in very good health. The pangolin’s mother breast feasts its baby and the baby always cling to her mother tail when moving. When it’s about two or three months, the pangolin will fed on ant eggs and not clings to her mother tail anymore. The baby pangolin is now receiving special care from WAR staff at Cu Chi WRS.
New born pangolin clings to its mother at Cu Chi WRS Both mother and father of the baby pangolin were rescued by WAR and Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department in August 2010. The mother with front left leg missing and the father with front right leg missing have stayed at Cu Chi WRS since then and will never be released back to the wild. In March 2012, WAR staff decided to place the injured male and female pangolins together. After four months of gestation, the female delivered the baby pangolin safe and sound. Javan Pangolins are listed in Vietnam Red Book as Endangered species (EN). It only gives birth to one or two babies per year. Due to slow reproductive rate, habitat lost as well as illegal hunting and trading, the number of wild pangolins has been decreased steadily. According Mr. Le Xuan Lam, Manger of Cu Chi WRS “This is the second time, baby pangolin has been born at Cu Chi WRS. The baby pangolin born at Cu Chi WRS before was released to the wild already. These successes contribute greatly to wildlife breeding programme for conservation that WAR is pursuing. We will definitely take good care of this pangolin so that it can also be released back to the wild”.
Kien Giang, 27 thJuly 2012 – Wildlife At Risk (WAR) successfully inaugurated Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station (WRS) in cooperation with Kien Giang Provincial Forest Protection Departments (FPD), and Kien Giang Union of Friendship Organisation. With a total area of three hectares at Hon Dat District, Kien Giang Province, Hon Me WRS rescues bears and endangered wildlife species of Mekong Delta region. At the Station, rescued wildlife will be taken good care and rehabilitated by WAR staff before being released back to the wild.
Attended the inauguration ceremony were more than 50 participants from The Center of Region Three of the Viet Nam Forest Protection Department, People’s Committee of Kien Giang Province, Kien Giang Union of Friendship Organisation, HCM C and Kien Giang Provincial FPD, Southern Office of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), People’s Committee of Hon Dat District – Kien Giang Province, Phu Quoc and U Minh Thuong National Parks, related bodies of Kien Giang Province, WAR, local residents and media. Also attended at the ceremony was representative of the main donor i.e. the Dragon Capital, and WAR’s Trustee.
Cutting the inauguration ribbon at the ceremony
Hon Me WRS is one of three rescue stations managed by WAR including Cu Chi WRS, Cat Tien Bear and Wild Cat Rescue Station and Hon Me WRS. Hon Me WRS was established according to the project entitled “Construction of Bear Rescue Station” implemented by WAR, Free the Bear and Brigitte Bardot Foundation during the period of 2008-2010. Since January 2011, the Station was officially named “Hon Me WRS” that was directly managed by WAR in collaboration with Kien Giang provincial FPD.
Currently, more than 50 individuals of 15 endangered species are being rescued at Hon Me WRS including Moon Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Sun Bear (Ursus malayanus), Yellow-checked Crested Gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae), Pygmy Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus), Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Heosemis grandis) and Elongated tortoises (Indotestudo elongata). Most recently on July 13th, the Station received a Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) for the first time, from a local people who voluntarily handed it. In the coming time, this station is going to rescue other species such as snakes, turtles, and small carnivores.
According to Mr. Le Thanh Binh, Manager of Kien Giang Provincial FPD: “The operation of Hon Me WRS meets the urgent need of wildlife rescue in the Mekong Delta region and is in line with the conservation plan that includes eco-tourism development and conservation education of Hon Dat district, Kien Giang province. We are totally committed to support WAR in operation of Hon Me WRS in order to contribute to the conservation of endangered wildlife.”
“The infrastructure improvement of Hon Me WRS so that it is able to rescue different wildlife species is one effort of WAR to protect endangered wildlife from extinction. The strong supports and cooperation of related bodies are fundamental for the operation of Hon Me WRS. We believe that with this cooperation, more and more wildlife will be successfully rescued in the coming time.” – said Mr. Dominic Scriven, WAR’s Trustee.
WAR is grateful for valuable supports from individuals and organisations in saving Vietnam’s unique wildlife.
Please download the press release here. Please see more photos of the inauguration here.
Ho Chi Minh City, 15th July 2012 – About 30 children aged 11 to 15 years old from the “I Love Nature” Club and “Young Media” Club – Khan Quang Do magazine participated in a study tour to discover the nature of Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. The study tour helped children to understand more about the mangrove ecosystem. It also fostered children’s love to the nature and thus encouraging them to practice positive behaviours toward the nature and wildlife. This is one activity of the programme titled “Take part in Nature Protection”, implemented by WAR and Khan Quang Do magazine.
Researching snails in mangrove forest
Children were excited with various creative activities and games during the trip, including searching for animal tracks, researching snails, collecting the fruits of Bakau Minyak – a dominant plant species in the mangrove forest, observing bats hanging on trees, and learning about oyster and crab farmings. The trip was an interesting and memorable experience to all participants. ”Before coming here, I thought that I would not tough the mud because I were so scare. But observing my friends walking excitingly into the mud, I changed my mind and I walked quite far into the mangrove forest, chasing for mangrove snails. The trip helps me to know more about living creatures in the mangroves forest as well as its precious values”- according to an evaluation sheet of a member of the “I Love Nature” club.
At the end of the trip, children created souvenirs from the bakau minyak fruits. They also wrote down positive behaviors toward wildlife and nature and attached it to the souvenirs those would be given to their friends and family members. The children committed to act accordingly, and persuade people around to participate in wildlife protection.
This trip was also an opportunity for the children to practice journal writing skills trained by WAR and Khan Quang Do Magazine, early July this year.
