VietNamNet Bridge – There was a salanganes island in Quang Binh province in the central region of Vietnam many years ago. However, the “salangane paradise” has appeared because of the cruel treatment of people.

 

Local residents once named the fallow island which is two miles away from the seashore, the “salangane’s island”, because there were incalculably many salanganes. Local historical books said that the products from salanganes were brought to Thang Long citadel (now Hanoi) to be presented to the kings, because these were wonderful meals.

 

In Quang Dong Commune in Quang Trach District of Quang Binh province, every one knows that the salangane’s island is the home of salanganes, for the last thousands of years. However, the island has been refused by salanganes because of the cruel treatment of people to them.

 

“Salanganes have left the island,” Chair of Quang Dong Commune said sadly. “Salanganes have become nearly extinct”. It is because the 32 hectare island is now not the ideal place for salanganes to live any more.

 

Quang Dong’s local residents have been proud of the salangane’s island, because the island has been providing a special food for the last many years. However, local residents nowadays do not “take a loving care” of the salanganes like their ancestors did in the past. They have been trying to catch as many salaganes as possible to process attractive meals.

 

A local resident related that in the salagane oviparous season, he and other men in the same commune go to the islands to catch birds. They not only pick up salangane nests, but also catch chicks and eggs to fry for meals.

 

A young man named “T” said not only young people, but old men also try to go to the island to catch birds.

 

“As old men cannot climb the mountains, they try to use rods to poke at the bird’s nests, so that chicks fall, bump their heads against the cliff and die. After that, they just need to collect the chicks and cook with the brine,” T said.

 

“A pot of birds includes nearly one kilogram of birds,” he added. Meanwhile, young people try to catch all the things they can, from chicks, parent birds to eggs.

 

However, the limited number of birds cannot satisfy the high demand of people. As there are no more parent birds, bird nests or bird eggs. People have been catching newly hatched birds as well.

 

Local residents now whisper in each other ears that newly hatched salanganes would help men become virile, and are nourishing to all people. As a result, people have been rushing to catch newly hatched birds and soak them in liquor.

 

Vo Quang Dat, Chair of Quang Dong Commune’s People Committee, has confirmed that local residents have been too ruthless to salanganes. The birds, feeling that the island is not a safe place for them to live any more, have to leave for other “paradises”.

 

Dat also said that people have accidentally driven salanganes from the island. Two years ago, people sprayed insect killing chemical substances into the holes on the island to kill black beetles, in an effort to develop tourism. The move has accidentally changed the living environment of salanganes and forced salanganes to leave.

 

Saigon Tiep Thi’s reporters, who arrived in the island, could see with their eyes, the “salanganes’ island with no salangane”. It took only 30 minutes to get to the island with motor boat. There are six workers from the Khanh Hoa Salangane,s Nest Corporation, who have been assigned an important task: luring salanganes to the “old paradise”.

 

The Khanh Hoa provincial authorities have agreed to cooperate with the corporation to lure salanganes to the island. A lot of modern machines and equipment have been brought to the island, while most experienced workers have also been brought there. However, after two months of living on the island, the workers can lure only six birds.

 

Local residents now understand that they themselves have destroyed a big heritage left by the ancestors.

 

“Many years ago, in the subsidization period, when I was too hungry, I tried to catch birds to eat instead of rice,” a fisherman named “N” said.

 

“At that time, the island looked black with many salanganes. But now there are no salangane. People are really inhumane. Now when we hear about the big uses of salangane nests, we feel regret that we could not keep the “golden mine,” he continued.

 

Dat said that the local authorities have called on local people to join forces to create a good environment for salanganes.

 

Source: SGTT