Nghe An: Arrested 5 subjects hunting wild animals, seized 2 gray langurs

On January 15, Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong - Director of Pu Mat National Park confirmed that the unit's Forest Ranger force had just caught a group of 5 subjects in Lien Huong village (Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong district) using homemade guns to illegally hunt wild animals in Pu Mat National Park.

Forest rangers and specialized forest protection teams of Pu Mat National Park seized two dead gray langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei), five hunting guns, one live wild boar, dried legs and bones of one wild boar, and various types of trapping wire.

Two gray langurs were shot dead by an illegal hunting group (photo provided by Pu Mat National Park).

On January 13, all five hunters were brought to Pu Mat National Park headquarters to be handed over to Con Cuong District Police for handling.

It is known that two weeks earlier, the Forest Rangers of Pu Mat National Park and forest protection officers arrested 7 people living in Khe Bu village, Chau Khe commune, Con Cuong district with 9 homemade guns, the evidence collected included monkeys, flying squirrels and dried mice. These people were fined a total of 36 million VND.

Currently, the use of homemade guns to hunt wild animals is increasingly happening in the mountainous areas of western Nghe An. This will seriously affect the wildlife population and pose many potential risks to security and order.

Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong said: Pu Mat National Park is currently conducting many activities in coordination with the Center for Research and Conservation of Wildlife (Save Vietnam's Wildlife) to step up patrolling to protect against hunting of wild animals. Forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces have continuously patrolled and arrested subjects who violate regulations on forest management and protection of wild animals.

2 out of 5 subjects hunting Gray Langur were caught red-handed (photo provided by Pu Mat National Park).

Pu Mat National Park also sends the message that all violations of regulations on forest management and protection and hunting of wild animals within Pu Mat National Park will be absolutely prohibited.

Forest rangers and specialized forest protection groups (anti-poaching) will increase patrols and strictly handle all violations. "We will continue to provide information on how to handle the subjects who shot and killed the two gray langurs mentioned above," the Director of Pu Mat National Park affirmed.

The shooting of two Gray Langurs, a wild animal on the list of endangered, precious, and rare species prioritized for protection under Decree 160/2013/ND-CP of the Government.

According to Article 244 of the Penal Code, the illegal hunting of these two Gray Langurs will face a penalty of 1-5 years in prison and a fine of 500 million to 2 billion VND.