Fined for releasing 10 bags of venomous snakes into the mountains.

After offering prayers at the temple on the mountain, Mr. Tài and his two drivers intended to release a highly venomous snake as a form of... liberation. However, before they could carry out their plan, they were apprehended on the spot by forest rangers for illegally transporting wild animals.

Evidence seized from the group releasing venomous snakes into the wild – Photo: BUU DAU

Late in the afternoon of January 10th, Mr. Ly Vinh Dinh, head of the Tri Ton District Forest Protection Department in An Giang province, stated that the unit is preparing a file to impose an administrative fine of 7.5 million VND on Mr. Tran Vu Tai (51 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, China) for illegally transporting wild animals.

Earlier that morning, people going up Mount Dai in O Ta Soc hamlet, Luong Phi commune, Tri Ton district saw Mr. Tai, Mr. Vo Minh Tan (from Ho Chi Minh City) and Mr. Nguyen Viet Ai (from Hau Giang) driving cars carrying many bags of snakes up the mountain.

Suspecting that these people were releasing snakes into the mountains, the locals reported it to the Tri Ton District Forest Management Unit.

Shortly afterward, the district's forest rangers quickly arrived, seized the evidence including 10 bags containing snakes, and invited the three individuals to the station for questioning.

Initially, Mr. Tài confessed that he had just gone up the mountain to worship at the temple with two drivers and intended to release these snakes as an act of merit and to pray for good luck.

Upon inspection, all of these snakes were found to be extremely venomous and dangerous, such as cobras, king cobras, etc., with a total weight of over 26kg.

“We have issued an administrative violation report against Mr. Tai for transporting wild animals without permission from the local authorities. As for these wild animals, we are currently processing the paperwork with the Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station (Hon Dat District, Kien Giang Province) to return them to their natural environment for conservation,” Mr. Dinh said.

According to Tuoi Tre