Pu Mat National Park successfully rescued hundreds of rare animals

Article: Van Truong - Editor: Lam Tung• December 24, 2019 06:44

(Baonghean) - Since the beginning of the year, we have received from authorities and households to rescue 70 wild animals including: Javan pangolin, macaque, red-faced monkey, pig-tailed macaque, dwarf loris, cobra, white-cheeked gibbon, wild cat, fox and turtle species... and are continuing to rescue dozens of other animals.

Biodiversity conservation

Located on the eastern slope of the Truong Son mountain range and spanning three districts of Con Cuong, Anh Son and Tuong Duong in Nghe An province, Pu Mat National Park was established in 2002, with a natural area of 194,000 hectares, of which the conservation area is 94,000 hectares and the buffer zone is 100,000 hectares. Due to its diverse and complex terrain, Pu Mat National Park has many wild animals and plants that need biodiversity conservation.

Bảo vệ rừng vườn quốc gia Pù Mát. Ảnh: V.T

Protecting Pu Mat National Park forest. Photo: VT

Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong - Director of Pu Mat National Park said: Regarding wildlife rescue, since the beginning of the year, 70 wild animals have been received from authorities and households to rescue, including: Javan pangolin, monkey, red-faced monkey, pig-tailed monkey, small loris, cobra, white-cheeked gibbon, wild cat, fox and turtle species... transferred to the Vietnam Wildlife Research and Conservation Center (Save Vietnam's Wildlife - SVW), Cuc Phuong Turtle Rescue Center, 33 animals.

Currently, the rescue of 16 animals is being organized, including: 2 moon bears, 3 gibbons, 6 monkeys, 1 red fox, 4 pangolins. In coordination with the Center for Wildlife Conservation in Vietnam (Save Vietnam's Wildlife - SVW) and the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center, 2 releases with a total of 195 animals were carried out.

Pu Mat National Park also implemented the 2019 scientific research program on schedule with the topic "Investigation, assessment of species composition, current status of invasion and proposed solutions to limit the impact of alien organisms on Pu Mat National Park". The unit directed cooperation with Save Vietnam's Wildlife - SVW in animal rescue, scientific research and improving law enforcement effectiveness.

The unit also cooperates effectively with many other organizations in investigating and researching amphibians, insects, reptiles, and setting camera traps to investigate animals. The results have captured many species of animals with high conservation value such as pangolins, bears, muntjacs, civets, and mountain goats.

Nhiều cá thể quý hiếm ở Vườn Quốc gia Pù Mát.

Many rare individuals in Pu Mat National Park.

The unit also strengthens cooperation with FFI in wildlife conservation. Cooperates with the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center and the Australian Zoo to conduct capacity building activities in bear rescue care and enrichment of animal food at the Rescue Center. Cooperates with the Asian Tutle Program (ATP) to implement the project "Evaluation of release strategies for endangered Big-headed Turtles confiscated in Vietnam" ...

In addition, Pu Mat National Park also regularly exchanges and coordinates to carry out a number of biodiversity investigation and research activities with the Institute for Wildlife Research (IZW), the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center, and experts from the Taronga Zoo Conservation Association, Australia.

In addition, Pu Mat National Park has also done a good job of preserving specimens from research and collection programs in the forest since its establishment. The work of monitoring and managing records of research programs has been carefully directed to be stored, serving well for the search and exploitation of research and conservation education programs at Pu Mat National Park.

Strengthening forest protection

In 2019, Pu Mat National Park has carried out forest patrolling and protection quite effectively. Attracting many people to take on forest protection contracts to participate in forest patrolling with the forest rangers. Regularly organizing patrols in the entire forest area under management, thereby destroying 209 makeshift huts in the forest; removing 4,980 traps; making records to expel 183 people from the forest for illegally entering the forest. Organizing forest protection contracts for nearly 1,100 households in 7 communes in 3 districts with a total area of 23,538 hectares.

Trung tâm cứu hộ Động vật hoang dã – Vườn quốc gia Pù Mát tiến hành thả động vật do các Hạt Kiểm lâm trong tỉnh và các Trạm Quản lý bảo vệ rừng - Hạt Kiểm lâm Pù Mát bàn giao.

The Wildlife Rescue Center - Pu Mat National Park releases animals handed over by the Provincial Forest Protection Departments and Forest Protection Management Stations - Pu Mat Forest Protection Department.

The unit has directed the implementation of administrative sanctions in the forestry sector and proposed criminal prosecution of cases related to forest management and protection. The number of administrative violations with owners has increased to the highest level ever. In 2019, administrative sanctions and forest product auctions totaled VND 288,782,400.

Regarding the difficulties of Pu Mat National Park, there are still many, such as in the core area of Pu Mat National Park, there are 2 Dan Lai ethnic villages living with 126 households, more than 1,000 people. The fact that the entire area of the village was previously planned and assigned to Pu Mat National Park is not appropriate. Thereby, the legitimate needs of the people to use materials for building houses, fuel materials... to serve their lives violate the regulations on forest protection and management. This is unreasonable and affects the management effectiveness of forest rangers in particular and Pu Mat National Park in general.

In addition, Pu Mat National Park is currently assigned to manage 94,715 hectares of forest, but the number of forest rangers directly responsible for forest protection is still much less than the regulations. Each ranger of Pu Mat National Park currently manages an average of nearly 1,300 hectares of forest, so forest patrolling is very difficult...