'Hot' problem of trapping wild animals in nature reserves

​(Baonghean.vn) -Hunting and trapping of wild animals is a serious problem in Pu Huong and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves, where some people in the buffer zone consider trapping animals as their main livelihood.

Pu Mat National Park has an area of ​​over 93,000 hectares, stretching across the borders of 3 districts: Anh Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong. This is one of the forest areas with many rare animals living such as tigers, saola, horse-faced monkeys...

Many traps for wild animals of all kinds were seized at Pu Mat National Park. Photo: Van Truong

However, the situation of hunting wild animals here is currently complicated; at the same time, in the districts with Pu Huong and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves, restaurants selling forest specialties continue to spring up.

In the forest areas of Pu Mat National Park and buffer zones, the Forest Protection Management stations, the authorities have discovered and confiscated many types of animal traps set everywhere.

Illegally hunted and trapped animals are brought to the Animal Rescue Center of Pu Mat National Park for care, photo: Van Truong

Since 2013, the number of traps collected by forest rangers in Pu Mat National Park has reached thousands.

The main types of traps commonly used are: spears, noose traps, and clamp traps. The main animals that trappers often target are wild pigs, weasels, monkeys, squirrels, etc.

Wild game meat including wild boar and deer in the freezer of a restaurant specializing in wild game in Quy Hop town. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of Forest Protection Management Department (Forestry Sub-Department) said: "In 2017, the forestry sector handled 7 violations of wildlife management regulations, collected 89 individuals (249 kg), and fined 120 million VND".

Many opinions say that, to protect rare animals, relevant authorities, especially the forestry sector, need to urgently inspect all restaurants and hotels that trade in wild animals and take strict measures according to the law.

Van Truong