VEA, Four Paws work to save wildlife animals

The Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) on August 30 signed a cooperation pact with Four Paws International to protect endangered wild animals.

At the signing ceremony. Photo: vea.gov.vn

Their joint program aims to boost cooperation and mutual understanding between Vietnam and other countries and organizations in biopersity protection. It will also work to increase Vietnam’s preservation capacity by applying international experiences to the country’s policymaking and law enforcement.

Ioana Dungler, Director of the Wild Animals Unit at Four Paws International, said the partnership marks a new step for both sides in saving threatened wild animals in Vietnam.

Previously, the VEA’s department of nature and biopersity preservation had discussed and collaborated with Four Paws regarding wild animal protection. They both wanted to save endangered species by deterring illegal trade, as well as study measures to protect the habitat and recover the populations of key species. They also aimed to improve wildlife knowledge to aid the building of relevant legal regulations.

Four Paws International in Vietnam was established in 2017. Prior to this, the non-governmental organization had sponsored its Vietnamese partners to build the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary. The site now covers 3.6ha and is capable of taking care of up to 44 bears. The facility has rescued eight moon bears from the practice of bile farming.

In 2015, Four Paws International designed and built a semi-wild enclosure for former bile bears at the Soc Son wildlife rescue center in Hanoi./.

( VNF/VNA )