VietNamNet Bridge - The number of wild animals is decreasing a lot due to excessive hunting. The propaganda and regulations to stop and restrict the use of animal products have not proved to be very effective. Therefore, breeding wild animals is necessary to conserve wild animals’ genes.

According to Wildlife At Risk organization (WAR), a recent survey about knowledge and attitude of citizens and students shows that both subject groups understand well the important role of wild animals, although they still confuse about rare levels of species. All of them agree that hunting and dealing in wild animals are the most dangerous threats to wild animals.

Many citizens and students know that they should inform the departments concerned or conservation organizations when seeing wild animals sold illegally. But most of them don’t know or remember what number to dial. WAR recommends propagandizing extensively to stop the use of wild animal products.

Conserving valuable genes

Dr. Dang Huy Huynh, president of Vietnam zoology organization, said that breeding some kinds of rare and valuable wild animals whose numbers are decreasing is very meaningful and necessary. A good combination between breeding technology and conserving wild animals’ genes will make the numbers of kinds of wild animals increase and keeping the animals at risk from going extinct. When the numbers increase, some individuals will be released into appropriate environment.

According to Ho Chi Minh City Forest Management Branch, the kinds of wild animals tamed in HCMC are quite various, including many species, like crocodiles (about 200,000 individuals), hedgehog (3,500 individuals), python (24,000 individuals), bear (368 individuals) and swallow (17,500 individuals). They are kept by hundreds of households. Four enterprises that are keeping 500,000 amphibians and reptiles are under strict control of the Forest Management Branch.

There are five kinds of wild animals given certificates of merchandise: crocodile, tortoise, python and wild boar. Nguyen Huu Hung, Manager of Inspection-Legislation Department of Forest Management Branch said that the wild animal breeding farms have been strongly developing recently. Hundreds of people and organizations are breeding tens of species, hundreds and thousands of individuals, in which there are many valuable species for domestic demand and export, bringing about lots of jobs and incomes for citizens.

Besides protecting and restoring forests and ecosystem, the organization and development of breeding rare and valuable wild animals should be conducted in various forms, such as breeding wild animals in wildlife rescue stations, enterprises’ farms, zoological gardens, households or tourist areas. Only by that way can wildlife resources and their economic profits be guaranteed.

Source: NLD