An investigation has found that villagers in the central province of Nghe An have raised tigers for profits for years without official response.
Bribes foster tiger rearing
An experienced tiger raiser in Nghe An said they bought small tigers from Ha Tinh Province.
Tiger rearing
According to the local man, over ten households in Nghe An Province’s Do Thanh Commune make a living from the career. The job has thrived in the locality for two year as incomes are mammoth averaging at hundreds of millions of VND.
“Each household raises one or two couples of tigers. The initial investment is quite large, so only better-off families dare to do it,” another man shared.
Some families are able to buy tigers with their funds while others have to take bank loans.
“Tigers gain weight of from 70-100 kilos per year. But they can earn hundreds of millions of VND per sale,” he noted.
The man said that in addition to his hometown, several households in a commune in Yen Thanh District are also raising tigers.
“We buy small tigers from Ha Tinh Province’s Huong Son Commune. We often take advance orders before purchasing the cubs.”
Public concerns over tiger rearing
Bribes
He said that local authorities are aware of their activities but don’t interfere after being bribed.
“They said they don’t stop people earning a livelihood, but they’ll take action if any people trade drugs,” he attributed.
Tiger raisers also provide bribes when they are transporting their animals. Bribes depend on the number of tigers.
Action?
According to the man, tigers are sourced from neighbouring Laos and are traded in Huong Son, a wildlife trafficking hotspot.
After a recent police raid on the illegal transportation of four tigers in Ha Tinh Province, local people in Nghe An have directly brought their tigers to Huong Son for trading.
All the collected material from the investigative report has been sent to authorities in Nghe An Province, the Ministry of Public Security, the Department of Forest Management and Department of Customs.
