Staff of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park release the animals into the wild (Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn)
Quang Binh(VNA) - Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binhhas released 11 rare animals back into the wild following attempts to rescueand rehabilitate them.
The park’s rescue centreearlier this week released eight mammals and three reptiles into a junglesection of the park.
The mammals includedthree pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leolina),two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta),two pigmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus), and one stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides). These are listed as vulnerable and leastconcern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The reptiles were twokeeled box turtles (Cuora mouhotii)and one impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa). The turtle is listed as an endangered species and the tortoiselisted as vulnerable on IUCN’s red list.
According to the rescuecentre, the animals had been handed over to the park by seven local people. Veterinarystaff in the park have taken care and rehabilitated the animals beforereleasing them.
Experts said educationattempts have resulted in more wild animals being handed over. Vietnamese lawsprohibit the killing, hunting, trading or transportation of wild animals. However,many people continue to hunt the animals for their meat or cage them forornamental purposes.
By September, the parkhad released a total of 51 wild animals back into the wild in 2018.-VNA
