Skulls of wild animals are stored at the house of a hunter in Quảng Nam. The province is taking action against wildlife-related violations. — VNS Photo Công Thành

QUẢNG NAM — About 94.1 per cent of wildlife-related calls from local residents regarding wildlife violations were successfully dealt with by wildlife-related crime prevention agencies in the central province of Quảng Nam in 2022, saving 1,172 animals and removing illegal advertisements for wildlife consumption and food menus at restaurants.

A report from the Education for Nature Việt Nam (ENV) unveiled that the province led with prompt actions after getting information from the community.

It said the ratio of successful resolutions to violations in the province was even higher than the average nationwide (about 32.7 per cent), while 84.6 per cent of live trafficked animals were rescued from 26 cases before releasing them to rescue centres.

A claw of a tiger is decorated as a necklace at a jewelry shop. Many localities began actions on reducing consumption or trade in illegal wildlife-related actions. — Photo courtesy of WWF

Deputy Director of ENV, Bùi Thị Hà, said Quảng Nam was seen as the only locality in Việt Nam where wildlife prevention agencies had 100 per cent feedback after receiving calls or information from local residents.

She said Thanh Hóa and Đồng Nai were also two of the leading provinces taking actions against anti-wildlife violations in Việt Nam with live-animal saving rates at 77.8 per cent and 59.4 per cent, respectively.

ENV also reported that Đồng Nai and Thanh Hóa were among the top localities with successful feedback along with Gia Lai, Quảng Nam, Bình Thuận, Bình Dương and Cần Thơ, but high success rates on seizing or arresting cases were recorded in Quảng Nam, Đồng Nai and Thanh Hóa.

It also said HCM City and Hà Nội had poor results solving violations at 16.9 per cent from 444 violations cases in HCM City, and 28.3 per cent out of 113 violations in Hà Nội.

The ratio of solving cases of rescuing living animals in the two big cities was low at 18.1 per cent (HCM City) and 32.8 per cent (Hà Nội), according to the report.

Nationwide, wildlife-related agencies received 1,153 calls and pieces of information by residents in 2022. However, only 32.7 per cent were solved successfully.

Hà expected the ratio of successful cases on wildlife violations would increase to 60 per cent in 2023, and long-term strict legal enforcement will help stop wildlife trafficking and consumption.

Two rangers release an endangered monkey back to nature at a nature reserve in central Việt Nam. — Photo courtesy of Bùi Thanh Lang

Last month, two women were sentenced 13 years in prison in a decision by the people’s court of Thăng Bình district in Quảng Nam province for illegal trafficking 12 endangered turtles.

Tam Kỳ City, the capital of Quảng Nam, initiated a comprehensive effort to eradicate wildlife meat consumption in the region by launching the ‘Say No to Wildlife Meat Consumption’ plan, aiming at achieving a ‘zero wildlife consumption’ goal by 2030.

ENV, in co-operation with the USAID, TRAFFIC and WWF, have been promoting the reduction of wildlife trade and consumption among communities, businesses and society in Việt Nam. — VNS