Acting on a tip-off, a team of environmental police from the Ministry of Public Security raided three farms in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong yesterday, detecting and seizing more than 600 wild animals, along with wild animal products.  

>> Endangered wildlife found in officials’ farms The inspections began at a farm in Duc An town, Dak Song district on September 11 morning. The farm is owned by Tran Danh Cuong, 47, who was absent at the time of inspection.

While searching the farm, inspectors found more than 100 wild live animals belonging to Group IB, which includes endangered and critically endangered species, including jungle cats, copperheads, douc langurs, panthers, monkeys, weasels, gayals, gibbons, and kraits.

In addition, inspectors found many carcasses that had been processed for making stuffed animals or being kept as specimens. Inspectors also found a handbook of transactions between the farm and other traders and breeders of wild animals.

All the wild animals and wild animal products were seized.

Later the same day, the team continued to raid two other farms in Kien Thanh Commune, Dak K’Lap District, owned by Pham Cong Nhan, 46, and Le Truong Son, 42.

Inspectors detected and seized more than 500 wild animals and wild animal products in the two farms. Like at Cuong’s farm, all of these animals are rare, precious and endangered species. Accompanying the team, Le Van Thieu, a forest protection officer at the Dak Song District, said that all the people involved will be held criminally responsible.