In Dong Thap province, after discovering the illegal trade of rare and precious wild animals such as rua ba go (Malayemys subtrijuga), rua rang (Heosemys annandalii) and many species of snake and birds, reporters gave the images they captured at wildlife markets to the head of the provincial forest rangers’ unit.

After a while, the head of the forest rangers’ unit replied that he would assign his staff to examine the markets as shown by reporters.

The next morning, he told reporters that his officers went to the markets for inspection but discovered nothing.

“We have drawn up a plan to take inspection tours throughout the province. When we finish the inspection, we will inform you about the results,” he said.

Reporters provided photos and evidence about the slaughter of Red-Book-listed wild animals to forest rangers, but they remained unruffled.

In Long An province, after two days of entering the ‘hellish’ market where red-book wild animals were kept in captivity and slaughtered, reporters contacted the head of the provincial forest rangers’ ‘unit. The answer they received from the official was, “You need to contact the local forest rangers’ unit’.

Reporters then tried to contact the head of Thanh Hoa Forest Rangers’ Unit, where the Thanh Hoa wildlife market was located, at the telephone number provided by the official, but failed.

Reporters then managed to contact Do Quang Tung, Director of the Forest Protection Department.

About 30 minutes after the discussion between reporters and the director, the owners of the shops selling red-book animals were seen taking away the cages containing crocodiles, snakes and birds.

Some minutes later, two officials came to the site on motorbikes and went around the market. They were seen looking and pointing, then drove away without taking any action of examining the shops.

The ‘inspection’ by the two forest rangers lasted three to five minutes. Feeling surprised, reporters once again contacted Le Huu Loi, head of the Long An provincial forest rangers’ unit. The official once again affirmed that nothing was discovered in the inspection, and that the inspection is taken periodically, once a week.

After the foreign rangers left, the owners of the shops once again displayed the wild animals for sale.

When asked why officials could not discover the violations though wild animals are sold in the open air, Loi said officials have done everything they can.

Explaining the inspection tour at ‘lightning speed’, Thanh Hoa’s Forest Rangers’ Unit head Nguyen Van Sung said the sellers know forest rangers by sight, so they hide animals when the officials come. 

Kim Chi

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