According to the Nghe An Forest Protection Department, some images have gone viral on social media, indicating that tourists can directly pet wild animals, particularly tigers, at the Nhon Nhan Ecotourism site in Dien Chau District.
A tourist is petting a tiger at the Hon Nhan Eco-tourism site
Visitors are allowed to take photos and hold and pet the Ngao tiger. It is six months old and weighs 23 kilogrammes. It is currently being raised at the Hon Nhan Ecotourism site.
Hon Nhan Ecotourism site has been instructed to give a formal explanation and remove all social media content involving direct contact with the tiger.
The department added that this is an unlicensed practice posing remarkable safety risks for tourists and urged the tourist facility to stop it immediately.
The Nghe An Forest Protection Department has requested wildlife facilities to ensure that animal enclosures fulfil national technical standards, equip adequate warning signs, and take full responsibility in case of any safety incidents.
The Dien Chau Forest Protection Unit has been asked to closely supervise the implementation of these requirements at local wildlife establishments.
