Help 30 Women Fight Wildlife Crime in Vietnam

Wildlife crime poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystems in various regions across the globe. In Vietnam, this illegal activity is driven by the demand for exotic pets, traditional medicines, and luxury goods. Amidst this challenge, a dedicated group of 30 women has stepped up to lead the fight against wildlife crime. Your support is crucial to our efforts in combating this illegal trade.

We are thrilled to share that in the first quarter of 2024 alone, our female-led Wildlife Crime Unit logged over 638 new wildlife crime cases, consisting of more than 2,000 individual violations. With support from ENV, a total of 364 live wild animals have been rescued or voluntarily transferred from January to March of this year.

Below are some examples of successful cases since our last report:

• Following a public report to ENV, the Tam Diep Yen Mo District Forest Protection Department confiscated a stump-tailed macaque, a Chinese stripe-necked turtle, and a Burmese python from a pagoda in Ninh Binh province. The animals were transferred to the rescue center at Cuc Phuong National Park (Case ref. 29802/ENV).

• A report to the ENV Hotline led to the inspection of a shop in Dak Lak province by the Buon Ma Thuot Police. The inspection uncovered the illegal sale of prohibited goods, including 32 ivory rings and 4 ivory pendants. As a result, authorities issued the shop owner a fine of VND 195 million (USD 7,700) (Case ref. 26344/ENV).

• The Lam Dong People's Committee took action in response to a report from ENV regarding online wildlife advertising, leading to the imposition of a VND 85 million fine (USD 3,400) on a man for advertising wildlife. This case was initially brought to ENV’s attention in July 2021 and involved the advertisement of tiger claws, bear claws, bear gallbladders, and ivory products. Despite prior warnings from ENV, the individual remained uncooperative. This time, all his online accounts were shut down (Case ref. 20399/ENV).

• ENV assisted a citizen in transferring a Southern buff-cheeked gibbon to the Hai Phong City Forest Protection Department in cooperation with the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Cuc Phuong National Park, which is currently caring for the animal (Case ref. 30143/ENV).

• An informant called the ENV Hotline to report two macaques being kept at a restaurant in Hanoi. We contacted the Forest Protection Department and upon inspection, it was discovered that there were not two, but four Assamese macaques. The macaques were confiscated and transferred to the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center (Case ref. 30403/ENV).

• With ENV’s assistance, a person voluntarily transferred four critically endangered Bourret's box turtles to the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department. The turtles were then relocated to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station. Bourret's box turtles are granted the highest level of protection under Vietnamese law (Case ref. 30385/ENV).

Legislation and Policy Team

The Policy and Legislation team at ENV has provided assistance and guidance to law enforcement agencies in their efforts to apprehend and prosecute criminals.

Some of the most recent legal prosecutions include the following cases:

• The Cao Bang Provincial Court sentenced two smugglers and a taxi driver to 19 years in prison for illegally transporting 132 exotic wildlife species, including 10 live grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), five live yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea), 75 live rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri), 16 meerkats (Suricata suricatta), and three red-necked wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus). Another driver was fined VND 60 million for his involvement in the smuggling case (Case ref. 26334/ENV).

• The Nghi Son Town Court sentenced three individuals in Thanh Hoa to a combined total of over 18 years in prison for their involvement in the transportation and sale of seven pangolins (Case ref. 25863/ENV).

• A subject in Quang Ninh received a 6-year prison sentence for illegally transporting four live Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) weighing a total of 27.4 kg on his motorbike (Case ref. 30251/ENV).

• Quang Nam Provincial Court refused an appeal request and upheld a 13-year prison sentence for two women who illegally traded a variety of wild species, including two Indochinese rat snakes (Ptyas korros) and 69 turtles comprising 11 Bourret's box turtles (Cuora bourreti), two big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum), 14 keeled box turtles (Cuora mouhotii), seven Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis), 33 Asian stripe-necked leaf turtles (Cyclemys pulchristriata), an Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys oldhami), and an elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) (Case ref. 21406/ENV).

Communications and Public Awareness Team

Our Communications team continued their multifaceted work to raise public awareness of wildlife protection in Vietnam through education and community engagement.

For years, ENV has broadcast messages on VOV Traffic, the most popular Vietnamese radio channel, to discourage the public from committing crimes against wildlife. Our most recent deterrence campaign urges people to avoid wildlife violations and informs them about the severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 15 years, that are being enforced by authorities. The messages will be broadcast on VOV Traffic daily for the next 6 months in Hanoi and, for the first time, in Ho Chi Minh City as well.

In April, we released a wild bird protection guide, titled “Wild Birds Prohibited or Restricted from Advertising and Trade,” in support of law enforcement efforts to implement the Prime Minister’s directive on the conservation of wild and migratory birds. The guide features 264 species of wild and migratory birds, complete with photos for easy identification and information on their protection status. Birds included in the guide are endangered, prohibited, or restricted from trade, and require documentation proving their legal origin.

Lastly, in May we released “The ENV Call Center”, our 57^th Public Service Announcement, encouraging public mobilization to protect wildlife by reporting wildlife violations to the toll-free ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline at 1800-1522.

Without your donations, these vital actions to protect wildlife would not have been possible.

Thank you, and until next time!

The ENV Team