By Quyen Vu | Manager
Another bird migration season is underway. Between September and April, Vietnam’s wetlands and coastal areas are essential stopovers for hundreds of migratory bird species. These areas provide food and places to rest as birds travel south and later return north. Unfortunately, migratory birds are too often hunted and trapped to be served as exotic dishes in restaurants. Our wildlife crime fighters must therefore be fully equipped to handle the large number of bird-trapping and hunting crime reports received during this period, helping to keep Vietnam’s skies a safe passage for migratory birds.
As the end of 2026 approaches, we must also keep a close eye on other forms of wildlife crime. The festive period, including Christmas and Lunar New Year (Tet), can contribute to increased demand for wildlife as people across Vietnam and other parts of Asia gather to celebrate and exchange gifts. Wildlife may be consumed as food, used in traditional medicine or purchased as gifts or status symbols.
We can’t thank you enough for your support, which enables us to keep fighting on behalf of wildlife!
Between July and October 2026, a total of 1,026 new wildlife crime cases were reported to ENV, comprising 2,913 individual violations. Approximately 60% of these violations involved advertising wildlife for sale on social media.
During the same period, our wildlife crime fighters resolved 826 cases, and hundreds of birds, turtles, and other wildlife were rescued from the trade. Additionally, more than one ton of ivory was confiscated, and two major wildlife traffickers were arrested. Some notable successes are outlined below:
On July 26, 2026, the Economic Police Department of Phu Tho Provincial Police responded to an ENV online crime report, comprising an online supplier's profile and evidence of violations. Authorities confiscated two common palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and six watercocks (Gallicrex cinerea). The subject and his wife were fined a total of VND 46,000,000 (Case ref. 21587/ENV).
On August 6, 2026, Gia Lai Economic Police and Vietnam Customs seized almost 1,200kg of ivory and 80kg of wildlife bones smuggled from Africa. Following an investigation, two individuals were arrested (Case ref. 37753/ENV).
On August 18, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City authorities responded to a public report submitted via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated six red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) from a local temple (Case ref. 19620/ENV).
On September 2, 2026, Thu Dau Mot Police in Ho Chi Minh City confiscated six long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) from a local residence during a sting operation with ENV. The subject was subsequently fined VND 67,000,000. The case was originally reported to ENV in 2019, when the subject advertised wildlife for sale on social media (Case ref. 14797/ENV).
On September 4, 2026, Lam Dong Provincial FPD responded to a public report made via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 800 meters of bird nets from a local field. The nets were destroyed (Case ref. 38169/ENV).
On September 4, 2026, Hanoi authorities responded to an ENV online crime report and confiscated 35 Asian koels (Eudynamys scolopaceus) being transported in a vehicle. A subsequent inspection of the subject's house resulted in the confiscation of almost 500 wild birds. The subject was administratively fined VND 16,000,000 for possessing, smuggling, and trading wild birds (Case ref. 20247/ENV).
On September 7, 2026, Lam Dong Provincial FPD responded to a public report made via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 1,200 meters of bird nets from a local field. The nets were destroyed (Case ref. 38188/ENV).
On September 9, 2026, Phu Tho Provincial FPD responded to a public report made via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 400 meters of bird nets and three fake herons from a local field. Authorities destroyed all the hunting tools (Case ref. 38161/ENV).
On September 10, 2026, Binh Loi Trung Ward Police of Ho Chi Minh City responded to a public report submitted via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 17 turtles being sold at a local pagoda. The subject was administratively fined VND 3,000,000 (Case ref. 8919/ENV).
On September 10, 2026, Hanh Thong Ward PC of Ho Chi Minh City responded to a public report submitted via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated five red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and four Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis) being sold at a local shop (Case ref. 20242/ENV).
On September 10, 2026, Da Nang City Economic Police, in coordination with Inter-Area 11 FPD, responded to a report made via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated one giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis), six Eastern black-bridged leaf turtles (Cyclemys pulchristriata), and 48 Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis) from a local market. The seller was administratively fined VND 6,000,000. All the turtles were released into the wild (Case ref. 23866/ENV).
On September 29, 2026, with support from ENV, Hoa Hiep Commune People's Committee in Ho Chi Minh City received an oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) from a local resident. The resident's mother reportedly bought the hornbill online a few years earlier. ENV advised the resident not to purchase wildlife under any circumstances. The hornbill was transferred to Cu Chi Rescue Center (Case ref. 38410/ENV).
On October 8, 2026, Can Tho City Mobile FPD, in coordination with Can Tho City PC, responded to a report made via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated a tiger trophy from a communal house where local residents had worshipped it for many years. The trophy was transferred to the Institute of Life Sciences (Case ref. 30390/ENV).
On October 21, 2026, the National Environmental Police, in coordination with Phu Tho authorities, responded to a public report made via the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline and confiscated 1,050 wild animals, including oriental pied hornbills, raptors, parrots, and other bird species (Case ref. 29376/ENV).
Thank you for standing with us in the fight against wildlife crime. Your support makes this work possible and helps us protect wildlife across Vietnam, one case at a time.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
