Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh has released 11 rare animals back into the wild following attempts to rescue and rehabilitate them.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park staff release the animals into the wild. (Photo baotainguyenmoitruong.vn)

The park’s rescue centre earlier this week released eight mammals and three reptiles into a jungle section of the park.

The mammals included three pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leolina), two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), two pigmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus), and one stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides). These are listed as vulnerable and least concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The reptiles were two keeled box turtles (Cuora mouhotii) and one impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa). The turtle is listed as an endangered species and the tortoise listed as vulnerable on IUCN’s red list.

According to the rescue centre, the animals had been handed over to the park by seven local people. Veterinary staff in the park have taken care and rehabilitated the animals before releasing them.

Experts said education attempts have resulted in more wild animals being handed over. Vietnamese laws prohibit the killing, hunting, trading or transportation of wild animals. However, many people continue to hunt the animals for their meat or cage them for ornamental purposes.

By September, the park had released a total of 51 wild animals back into the wild in 2018.

(Soure: VNA)