The environment police have arrested a man in HCM City for allegedly trading endangered animals online.

A photo posted on facebook by Phan Huynh Anh Khoa.

They caught Phan Huynh Anh Khoa, 22, owner of a pet shop in Tan Binh District, red-handed selling nine oriental small-clawed otters and a red-shanked douc to a customer at a coffee shop in Tan Binh last Thursday.

The National Environment Police - Southern branch and the Wildlife Conservation Society and Education for Nature-Vietnam found in his shop more endangered animals, including two tegu lizards, three savannah lizards, two squirrels, and a crocodile.

Khoa told them that he had bought most of the animals in Thailand and sold them as pets at his shop.

The police said despite being fined several times in the past for wildlife trading, he continued to advertise the sale of wild animals online.

The seized animals were handed over to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.

The police are continuing with their investigation.

VNS