Restoring and protecting the ecosystem, forest resources, genetic diversification and saving precious animals to preserve the biodiversity-- have all prove to be urgent tasks in Vietnam.
The rapid increase in the population and the water, forest and land resource overexploitation all have led to the water resource exhaustion. Therefore, it’s understandable why nearly 1000 wild animal and plant species have been in the danger. A lot of rare and precious creatures have become rarer, though Vietnam is recognized as one of the 16 countries in the world with the highest biodiversity level in the world.
Grey-shanked douc killed in national park and the power of mass media
Domestic and international organizations have recently gathered their strength to call on to protect black-shanked langurs from extinction. This is a rare and precious species listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and the world’s Red Book.
On June 28, 18 dead dried bodies of the langurs--weighing 49 kilos were discovered in the Bu Gia Map National Park in Binh Phuoc province. Two years ago, a similar case also occurred at the national park.
The death of the langurs has raised big worries in the community, which has prompted environment protection organizations to take actions to protect wild animals. ENV (Education for Nature –Vietnam) in late June organized an exhibition to call for wildlife protection at Ngoc Lam Park in Hanoi, attracting hundreds of visitors.
The exhibition showed the images of the rare and precious animals which were dead because of the humans’ savage actions. It also provided the information about the threats the wildlife is facing, while encouraging people to share their opinions about the way to protect rare and precious animals.
The HCM City Department for Natural Resources and the Environment has organized a competition about biodiversity for the 6th-8th graders in the city. Dao Anh Kiet, Director of the department, said that the competition was a good chance for students to learn and exchange view about the environment protection in general and wildlife protection in particular.
The Red Book of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of the Nature) showed that in 1996, only 26 wild animal species were listed as endangered species, while the figure jumped to 47 in 2010. The noteworthy thing is that many species are not highly endangered in the globe, but they are listed as highly endangered in Vietnam. Some wild animal species, which have become extinct in Vietnam, still exist in neighboring countries.
Wild animals need protection
WAR, a wildlife protection organization, said that in the first six months of 2012, more than 210 individuals of 26 wild animal species were rescued in Vietnam.
Most of the individuals were discovered in the smuggling and trafficking cases, while some were handed over by people or pagodas. WAR said that most of the animals were exhausted and injured when they were found. At the rescue stations, the animals had health examination, and received care to restore their natural instinct to get ready to return to the wild.
On July 3, the couple of hippopotamuses imported from Israel successfully gave birth at Dai Nam Zoo in Binh Duong province. Hippopotamus is a wildlife species named in the world’s red book which is in high danger.
According to Director of Dai Nam Zoo Duong Thanh Phi, the hippo baby weighs 25 kilos, is now in good health and can swim in water.
The other two precious animal species, namely while tiger and while lion, also being bred at Dai Nam Park , are expected to give birth in July.