A langur is trapped by a rare animal hunter. Hunting, caging, trading, transporting or killing protected wild animals are prohibited under Vietnamese law. — File photo

They were Thai Kim Hong, 52 (who was sentenced to 15 months in prison); Phan Van Hoi, 36 and Thai Dình Quy, 58, (12 months in prison each); Thai Van Sang, 42 and Thai Vinh Quang, 60; Phan Trong Son, 46 (nine months suspended sentence each). All were residing in Hoa Hai Commune, of Huong Khe District.

According to the indictment, at 10am on November 17, 2018, when Phan Trong Son was walking through the province’s Vu Quang National Park, he discovered a trapped langur. He brought the langur back home to sell it to a local man, Thai Kim Hong at a cost of VND1.1 million (US$50).

Then, Hong, Son and four other men (Phan Van Hoi, Thai Dinh Quy, Thai Van Sang and Thai Vinh Quang) killed the langur and began to eat it.

During the process of killing the rare mammal, Phan Van Hoi filmed the clip and streamed it on Facebook. The clip was condemned by thousands of viewers.

After that, Hoi deleted the video, however the Huong Khe District police discovered the case and investigated the killers.

Police agencies prosecuted six people for "violating the regulations on management and protection of endangered, precious and rare animals according to Article 244 of the Criminal Code 2015."

Many Vietnamese people continue to kill wild animals for food. Hunting, caging, trading, transporting or killing protected wild animals are prohibited under Vietnamese law.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the diversity of animals in Vietnam was very rich, with 175 mammal species, 826 bird species, 180 reptile species, 80 amphibian species, 471 freshwater fish species, over 2,000 marine fish species, 7,000 insect species in addition to tens of thousands of invertebrates.

The Vietnamese Government has issued legal documents on rare animal conservation and protection such as elephant, tiger, bear, reptile and small animal protection programmes.

VNS

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