VietNamNet Bridge - A group of reporters from Tap chi Bao ve Rung va Moi Truong (Forest and Environment Journal) have been able to penetrate a large-scale wildlife trafficking ring which carries out both domestic and cross-border affairs.


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Pretending to be disciples of an official seeking to collect wildlife in large quantities, the reporters met trafficking godfathers and saw how wild animals were slaughtered and processed.

Before the mission, they found images and ads on wildlife product supplies on the internet. After watching a few Facebook pages of traffickers, they discovered that tens of tigers in one month were slaughtered to make tiger bone glue. Each 0.1 kilo of the glue was offered at tens of millions of dong.

After watching a few Facebook pages of traffickers, they discovered that tens of tigers in one month were slaughtered to make tiger bone glue. Each 0.1 kilo of the glue was offered at tens of millions of dong.

Social media is a useful tool that helps connect trafficking rings, sellers and buyers. Zalo and Facebook are the most popular communication channels among them. A vast black market of wildlife is on the channels, where everything can be traded, from deer, monkey and turtle to tiger, leopard, bear and pangolin.

Thuy Ung Hamlet in Hoa Binh Commune in Thuong Tin District, and Du Du Hamlet in Thanh Thuy Commune in Thanh Oai District are well known as the ‘dens’ of wildlife skulls and horns. In the villages, there are many horn shops with colorful signboards. 

The products on display are advertised as fine arts made of horns of wild animals, mostly wild boars, chamois, antelope and hag-horn plates imported from Africa.

Skirting the rows of horns displayed on Thuy Ung Road, reporters visited the house of H.R, a famous horn manipulator. Next to the spacious house of R. was a warehouse and workshop with cameras installed at every corner. 

In the 50 square meter living room, hundreds of wildlife heads and horns were hanging. Even the stairs to the second floor was used to display goods. It was estimated that there were 300 objects in the room, processed and ready to be packed for sale. 

Pointing to a goat curly horn, R explained: “The horn is priced at VND5 million. It is from a goat living in the provinces adjacent to Tibet. As it lives in mountain and snow, it has thick fur. It is expensive because it is rare. Boar head is cheaper.”

In Du Du Hamlet, S.H is a well-known name. He owns a huge storehouse of horns and a chair made of African boar horn. The horns are sold wholesale at VND2 million per kilo.


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