Protect Endangered Wildlife Against Exploitation

Your impact in action: what you helped ENV achieve

Between April and August this year, ENV recorded a total of 1,257 new wildlife crime cases, with 1,087 cases reported by the public. During this period, our dedicated staff, working alongside law enforcement, social media partners, and volunteers, successfully addressed 757 cases, including 10 criminal cases. As a result, 575 live wild animals, including 290 freshwater turtles and tortoises, 188 birds, four pangolins, three gibbons, one langur, two otters, and 269 other wildlife, have been rescued from illegal trade in Vietnam.

Bears

In 2025, our team continues to take strong actions to end bear bile farming in Vietnam. During this reporting period, three more bear farms have been closed, reducing the total number of bears in captivity to only 153, a 96% decrease since 2005. Additionally, our team has successfully addressed 69 bear crime cases reported by the public, including shutting down 15 Facebook pages with 627,867 members that advertised and sold bear bile, bear paws, and other bear-related products.

Tigers

Between April and August this year, ENV recorded 101 new tiger crime violations, mostly involving advertising and selling traditional medicine made from tiger bones, and jewelry crafted from tiger teeth and claws. During this reporting period, our hard-working team successfully resolved 83 tiger crime cases, including seizures of six tiger trophies from temples and private homes.

Pangolins

ENV recorded 43 new pangolin crime cases with 51 violations over the past five months. Thanks to the hard work of our team members, law enforcement authorities, and an NGO partner, a highly successful operation was conducted, leading to the seizure of more than 800 kg of pangolin scales and the arrest of a major wildlife trafficker. Additionally, during this period, three live pangolins were rescued from illegal trade.

Combating wildlife cybercrime

Wildlife cybercrime cases make up more than 90% of the total wildlife crime cases reported to ENV. In the last five months, ENV received 711 new wildlife cybercrime cases involving the advertising and sale of wildlife on popular platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Combating wildlife cybercrime remains a challenge for ENV and local law enforcement authorities, as it’s difficult to identify offenders and gather physical evidence for serious charges. Despite these challenges, law enforcement in Vietnam has continued to improve their efforts and has imposed stricter penalties for cybercrime traders, including the successful arrest and prosecution of offenders.

Over the past five months, our team, in collaboration with law enforcement and social media partners, has successfully resolved 557 wildlife cybercrime cases. As previously mentioned, 15 Facebook pages promoting and selling endangered species have been deactivated, thanks to the great efforts of our staff and the public, despite the lack of cooperation from Meta.

Communication and Public Awareness

Educating the public is an important component of our strategies for combating the illegal wildlife trade. In July, ENV released its 60th TV Public Service Announcement titled “ENV, not EVN.” The PSA used a common mix-up between ENV and EVN - the country’s large and sole electrical company - to encourage the public to report wildlife crimes to the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline. The PSA was broadcast free of charge on 34 TV channels nationwide, reaching millions of viewers across the country.

Besides the TV PSA, ENV also partnered with the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) to promote the ENV Wildlife Crime Hotline on their traffic radio stations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during daily rush hours. These are the most popular radio channels in Vietnam.

Links:

• ENV website