According to police in Phu Tho, officers in Hop Ly Commune, working with concerned authorities, discovered that a 36-year-old local man was illegally keeping multiple wild animals.
The wild animals including one rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) weighing about 1.8 kilogrammes, three red-bellied squirrels and ten five-coloured birds.
The macaque is listed as a rare and endangered species under Group IIB protection, while the squirrels and birds are classified as common forest wildlife.
The man failed to provide documents proving legal origin or permits. He told investigators he had bought the macaque in 2022 and the other animals in early 2026 as pets.
Police seized the animals and recorded an administrative violation. Authorities are working with relevant agencies to complete the case and handle it in accordance with the law.