VietNamNet Bridge - Fewer wild animals can now be found in forests, and more wildlife meat is being sold at markets in Dak Nong, called the ‘wildlife metropolis’.


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In mid-2018, a series of food shops and restaurants in the districts of Dak Reap, Dak Mil, Dak Giong and Gia Nghia Town were found trading, breeding in captivity, and slaughtering wildlife that are under the protection of Vietnamese laws and international conventions.

Some nature conservation international organizations have sent reports and provided materials to agencies in Dak Nong, asking to impose heavy sanctions on the violators.

However, Lao Dong reporters noted that it is still easy for travelers to order meals made with wildlife.

B. is a well-known wildlife trader and supplier in Dak RLap. The woman showed reporters many rabbits, porcupines, deer and wild boar after they said they wanted ‘some wildlife meat’. 

When the reporters said they wanted to ‘do big business’, B said she had tiger meat as well.

Fewer wild animals can now be found in forests, and more wildlife meat is being sold at markets in Dak Nong, called the ‘wildlife metropolis’.

The woman said that her products have high quality and are available in many provinces, from HCMC to Binh Duong and Can Tho.

The owner of a well-known wildlife restaurant in Dak Mil told reporters he could satisfy all the requirements from customers. Wild boar, squirrel, rabbit and birds can be delivered immediately after payment. Customers will have to place orders and pay a deposit if they want civets and ‘ran ho trau’ (Ptyas mucosa).

The wild animals mentioned all are listed in the government’s list of protected wildlife stipulated in Decrees 160 and 32, and CITES, of which Vietnam is a member.

When reporters came to see H in Gia Nghia Town, they saw live animals kept in a cellar and frozen meat in six refrigerators. 

H. offered a simple method for transaction. “You just need to pay a deposit and you will get delivery soon. Give me your address, ‘goods’ will be shipped to you. Later, you will just need to remit money via bank accounts,” H told reporters.

At the meeting with H, reporters met D and R, two skilled hunters. They said they can hunt and sell 20 kilograms of wildlife each month, for which they can earn VND9 million, a large sum for many locals. 

Some days ago, Dak Nong’s forest rangers and local officials took inspection tours to the houses of Nguyen Van Toan in Dak Lao commune and DC Restaurant owned by Doan Huu Dai, seizing 68 kilograms of wild animal meat of different kinds and five live animals. Both men said they had bought the animals from hunters.


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