Local officials said on April 26 that they worked with forest rangers from Tan Ky and commune police to receive the animal, complete the necessary procedures and release it back into its natural habitat.
Authorities release the slow loris back into the wild (Photo: Tan An).
Earlier that morning, Dang Thi Ly, 54, discovered the unusual animal hiding behind her family’s refrigerator.
She noticed its large round eyes and unusual appearance and suspected it might be a wild animal. Ly and her relatives carefully captured it, placed it in a safe enclosure and reported the case to Tan An Commune Police.
Police officers later arrived at the scene and took custody of the animal.
After inspection, officials identified it as a pygmy slow loris, a primate species listed in Group IB, the category for endangered, precious and rare animals given the highest level of legal protection in Vietnam.
According to forest rangers, pygmy slow lorises are nocturnal animals that move slowly and have a gentle nature. Their diet mainly includes insects and tree sap.
The rescued animal was found in stable health and showed no signs of injury.
After all procedures were completed, local authorities, forest rangers and police released the loris back into the wild.
Officials also praised Ly’s family for their awareness and responsible action in protecting wildlife.
Local authorities advised residents who discover wild animals to inform the relevant agencies rather than keeping or trading them, helping to conserve rare species.