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| Experts release a pangolin into the wild. Photo courtesy Save Vietnam’s Wildlife |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI – Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) and Cúc Phương National Park have successfully released 53 Java pangolins (Manis javanica) to the wild.
The animals were released on Saturday night, bringing the number of pangolins returned to their natural habit within a week to 93 -- the largest pangolin release in Việt Nam, the SVW said.
Earlier, late in April, 40 pangolins were set free.
The lucky mammals were among 113 pangolins that the environment police in Hòa Bình Province seized from illegal wildlife traders in April. The animals recovered after a month of being taken care of by conservationists at SVW.
Pangolins are facing the threat of becoming extinct in Việt Nam. Although trade of the animal is banned worldwide, pangolins are still being caught as their meat is considered by some as a delicacy, while there are others who believe their scales can be used in treatment.
Nguyễn Văn Thái, director of SVW, said pangolins were among the animals most difficult to rescue on this planet. They were considered special and only ate ants and termites.
More than 400 pangolins have been rescued from traffickers over the past eight months. Of these, 303 pangolins have been successfully released to the wild, he said.
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) is a national non-profit organisation founded to provide more effective solutions to secure a future for Vietnamese wildlife. — VNS
