Tourist discovered wild animals in cages

Update: 02/04/2009
A visitor called the Education for Nature to inform them about the Madagui Tourist Site in the central highlands province of Lam Dong that illegally caged many wild animals.

According to the Education for Nature (ENV), the Lam Dong Forest Protection Department, on March 26, seized three white-cheeked, black gibbons, five red-faced monkeys, six pig-tale monkeys, one great hornbill, and two Burmese milvuses, which were bred in cages at Madagui tourist zone, in Dahuoai District, Lam Dong Province.

These animals were brought to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in the Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai. The animals were detected by a tourist, who called to the ENV via the hot line. The ENV immediately called the Dahuoai Forest Protection Bureau to deal with this case.

ENV’s Wildlife Protection Program Coordinator, Van Anh, said that breeding wild animals at tourist sites to attract tourists has become a trend in Vietnam. “In this case, ENV highly appreciated the local authorities of Lam Dong Province in solving this case. Their timely action send a message to violators that breeding wild animals in cages is illegal and will be punished strictly,” Van Anh said.

Source: Vietnamnet