Man buys monkeys and pigs and releases them into the forest

(Baonghean.vn) - What he does is unlike anyone else. Rumor has it that when someone catches a monkey, regardless of the weather, he goes to the place to buy it and... releases it into the forest.

We entered Mr. Nguyen Viet Thanh's house at the foot of Bu A mountain in Hung Thinh hamlet (Phu Son commune - Tan Ky, Nghe An). The house was built simply, the front was covered with some planks he had collected. However, we heard that he had a huge fortune, so before arriving, we thought he must have a mansion located in the middle of the forest.

While struggling to fix the broken pump, he looked up and asked: “What are you guys here for?” Listening to the guest explain about his exploration of Bu A forest, he left the pump unfinished and talked about his forest. His hair was already streaked with silver but his voice was hearty. Somewhat surprised, his son Nguyen Viet Tuan sat next to us and smiled: “That’s my father’s personality, he can talk about the forest all day long.”

Bu A forest, nearly 300 hectares wide, is where Mr. Nguyen Viet Thanh protects and releases monkeys. Photo: Dao Tho

When we mentioned the story of him traveling everywhere to buy and release monkeys back into the forest, he laughed and said: A few years ago, seeing people hunting so many monkeys, he felt sorry. Whenever he heard that someone had just caught a monkey, regardless of the weather, he would go there to buy it. There was a time when he bought 6 monkeys, including rare species such as red-faced monkeys, white-faced monkeys...

After taking care of the monkeys for a while, when they were healthy again, he took them into the forest and released them back into the wild. There were times when after he released them, the monkeys were captured by hunters. Hearing the news, he ransomed them and released them back into the wild.

Occasionally, in Bu A forest, you can see monkeys released by Mr. Nguyen Viet Thanh. Photo: Dao Tho

“Someone asked me, what is your purpose in doing that? It’s really sad to think about it, some people think I just want to be famous, to be extravagant. But I just want everyone to understand that a poor guy like me dares to spend that much money to buy monkeys and release them back into the forest, I just hope they don’t go there to hunt anymore. It’s that simple” - Mr. Thanh’s voice became stern.

Mr. Thanh truly has a boundless love for the forest. Through his words, we learned that before 1993, this Bu A forest was almost completely exploited. “I myself used to be a forest destroyer. But then I thought again that what I did was not right, so in 1993 I came here to receive 298 hectares of this forest to protect. Now you see, this is one of the most beautiful forests in this province. I dare say so”- he confided and affirmed.

A monkey was just released into the forest by Mr. Thanh. Photo: Dao Tho

Talking about this, he recalled: Before 1993, when he was young, he and his friends roamed all over the forests with precious wood to exploit. The precious wood trees were cut down mercilessly and avoided the authorities to be sold. He also did not remember how many forests he had passed through to illegally exploit wood, only remembering that those places after a devastating attack were left with only the stumps left, becoming desolate.

“I had to hide from the authorities so many times and I felt so humiliated. The two words “forest bandit” kept haunting me. In addition, I could not bring any money home to my family when I was young. A feeling of guilt weighed heavily on my heart. And then after a day of thinking, I realized that I needed to change, needed to do everything again to fix what I had caused to the forests. In 1993, I left the village to live here alone, taking care of and protecting 298 hectares of Bu A forest, considering it a way to make up for the years of recklessness” – he sadly confided.

In addition to monkeys, Mr. Nguyen Viet Thanh also releases hundreds of wild boars in Bu A forest. Photo: Dao Tho

“The day I came here to build a hut and live alone, everyone told me I had a “problem”, I was Robinson Crusoe… But I didn’t care, I went to the forest alone every day to take care of it, protect it, renovate the fish pond, and release wild pigs…” – he shared with a smile.

Indeed, his work is “unique”. On the 298 hectares of forest he has taken over to protect, he has released wild boars into the area and now he can’t remember how many of his pigs are there. Mr. Thanh lets the wild boars roam wild like that, and every afternoon and morning he prepares food so that when they are hungry, they will come back to eat.

Looking at Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh’s Bu A forest, we can understand how much he loves and cherishes the forest. And indeed, he is also the owner of a priceless “green gold treasure” on this difficult highland land.

Dao Tho