Rescue centre saves smuggled wild animals

The Hon Me Rescue Centre for bears in Kien Giang Province has in the last three months, rescued 29 wild animals which had been captured illegally or discovered whilst being smuggled.

The Hon Me Rescue Centre for bears in Hon Dat district, in southern Kien Giang province, has in the last three months, rescued 29 wild animals which had been captured illegally or discovered whilst being smuggled.

According to the Kien Giang Forest management team, the animals include Tibetan bears, Malaysian sun bears, pig-tailed macaques and yellow cheeked gibbons.

All the animals are said to be in good condition and to be released to the wild soon.

The Hon Me Bear Rescue Centre which cost nearly USD500,000 to build is a joint project between the non-governmental organisation Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and the provincial Union of Friendship Organisations.

This is the first rescue centre for bears in the south of the country and it aims to protect and look after bears in Vietnam up to international standards.