Help End the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Vietnam

We hope you enjoyed the last two issues of our monthly newsletters, which provided a quick update on our efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam. If you have not received the newsletter and would like to start receiving it this month, please contact us at internationalcomms@env4wildlife.org.

We can’t thank you enough for your vital support, which has enabled our team to continue our efforts to protect endangered species. In this report, we would like to provide a brief summary of our results in combating wildlife crime over the past five months, from October 2025 to February 2026.

During this reporting period, ENV received 1,811 new wildlife crime cases, involving more than 482,000 animals and animal products. Cybercrime cases accounted for 60% with 1,095 cases and more than 405,540 individual animals and animal products. Meanwhile, the trade in exotic species remains a serious concern, involving 193 cases and more than 66,800 individual animals.

Our hardworking team successfully resolved 703 crime cases. Our collaborations with different law enforcement agencies resulted in the confiscation of 7,457 animals from the illegal trade, including 6,375 live animals. Below are some of notable cases:

On October 9, 2025, An Khanh Ward Police in Ho Chi Minh City responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated nine red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) from a street market (Case ref. 33789/ENV).

On October 28, 2025, Kim Bang authorities in Ninh Binh Province confiscated 15 black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), 25 egrets, and more than 40 bamboo sticks used to attract migratory birds from a lake. The birds were released back into nature, while the sticks were destroyed (Case ref. 34997/ENV).

On November 6, 2025, the National Forest Protection Department (FPD) and An Giang provincial authorities responded to ENV’s alert on rising iguana trading in Vietnam and confiscated 191 green iguanas (Iguana iguana) from an unlicensed farm. These green iguanas had reportedly been purchased without legal papers. All iguanas were transferred to Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station. On December 10, 2025, An Giang FPD issued an administrative fine of VND 37,500,000 to the owner (Case ref. 33917/ENV).

On November 11, 2025, Hanoi City Economic Police and the Forest Protection Department (FPD) responded to a report from ENV and confiscated 44 dead red-collared doves (Streptopelia tranquebarica) and 500 dead Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) from a local restaurant. This restaurant specialized in serving bird dishes and was first reported to ENV in 2019. The restaurant was administratively fined VND 8.5 million (Case ref. 15311/ENV).

On November 21, 2025, Da Nang City FPD responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 127 turtles from a pagoda. One hundred and eight native turtles were transferred to Vinpearl Nam Hoi An Safari, while 19 red-eared slider turtles were destroyed (Case ref. 20021/ENV).

On December 2, 2025, Da Nang City Police responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 12 Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis) from a fish stall at a local market. The turtles were released back into nature (Case ref. 25360/ENV).

On December 10, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City authorities and the National FPD, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, inspected an unlicensed farm and seized 202 iguanas. On December 17, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City FPD fined the owner VND 26,750,000 (Case ref. 34195/ENV).

On December 17, 2025, Dong Nai Provincial FPD responded to a public report via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated about 100 sparrows from a street vendor in front of a local temple. The birds were released back into nature (Case ref. 29029/ENV).

On December 23, 2025, Thanh Xuan Ward Police in Hanoi, in cooperation with ENV, confiscated 17 bear claws and four bear canines from a shipper during a sting operation. The goods were sent by post from an online seller (Case ref. 10375/ENV).

On December 24, 2025, during a sting operation, Gia Lai Provincial Police, commune police, and the Forest Protection Department (FPD), in cooperation with ENV, arrested an online seller and confiscated 10 Bourret’s box turtles (Cuora bourreti) and two yellow-headed temple turtles (Heosemys annandalii). The case was first reported to the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline in May 2025 for advertising turtles for sale on Facebook (Case ref. 33450/ENV).

On January 8, 2026, Thanh Xuan Ward Police in Hanoi, in cooperation with ENV, confiscated two live sulcata tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) from a shipper during a sting operation. On January 10, 2026, FPD Area No. 2 issued an administrative fine of VND 6 million for transporting and selling turtles (Case ref. 12384/ENV).

On January 19, 2026, Facebook deactivated a wildlife trading group called “Black-throated Laughingthrush Breeding Group,” following an ENV report submitted to the Ministry of Communication. The group had 20,228 members and was first reported to ENV by a member of the public in 2025 for advertising laughingthrushes, babblers, and other songbirds (Case ref. 34034/ENV).

On January 20, 2026, Facebook deactivated a wildlife trading group named “Mouse-deer, Wild Boar, and Civet Breeders Group.” The group had 30,344 members and was initially reported to ENV by a member of the public in 2024 for advertising civets, mouse-deer, bamboo rats, and other wildlife (Case ref. 29518/ENV).

On January 30, 2026, Hanoi FPD and Chuong My Ward Police, in collaboration with ENV, conducted a sting operation and confiscated four live leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) from an online trader. FPD fined the suspect VND 6 million. The cats were transferred to Hanoi Zoo. The trader was first reported to the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline in September 2025 for advertising leopard cats on Facebook (Case ref. 34497/ENV).

On February 2, 2026, Da Nang PC responded to correspondence from ENV and successfully convinced the Da Son Spiritual Culture Area to transfer the last moon bear (Ursus thibetanus) to a rescue center (Case ref. 16052/ENV).

ENV remains committed to strengthening Vietnam’s response to wildlife trafficking through close collaboration with government partners, law enforcement, and the public. With your continued support, ENV will build on the progress achieved in 2025 to dismantle trafficking networks, enhance judicial outcomes, and move closer to ending the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam.

Links:

• ENV's website