Sunda pangolins are carried in the truck. — Photo Save Vietnam’s Wildlife |
THÁI BÌNH — Sixty-one wild Sunda pangolins ((Manis javanica) were handed over to Save Việt Nam’s Wildlife by Thái Bình Province’s Police Department yesterday afternoon.
Previously, the police and the provincial Forest Management Department seized a truck illegally transporting the pangolins early yesterday morning.
The police are investigating two persons, Ngô Văn Hạnh and Lê Đức Anh, who were found packing the pangolins in styrofoam boxes with small holes, surrounded by other boxes containing ice, and loading the boxes on their truck.
Lâm Kim Hải, a doctor at Save Việt Nam’s Wildlife, said three pangolins had died after they were moved to the Save Việt Nam’s Wildlife centre in Cúc Phương National Park of Ninh Bình Province. Another was weak because it had been very close to the ice boxes on the truck,
Early this month, a complete ban on trade of all eight pangolin species was announced at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES in South Africa. Pangolins are now listed under CITES Appendix I, which is the highest level of protection under international law. — VNS
A Sunda pangolin is examined in the centre in Cúc Phương National Park. — Photo Save Vietnam’s Wildlife |