Wild Trade Vietnam

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THUMBNAIL	DESCRIPTION
photoessay	This is a select series of photos of Hanoi Zoo. Conditions have improved greatly since I first visited in 1989. The government has spent money on amenities for tourists. Animal housing and the quality of care have improved greatly. This set of photos can give you an idea of conditions at the zoo. [Select thumbmail image for more details.]
	My colleagues tell me that small zoos are appearing throughout Vietnam, operated at national parks and reserves and in government compounds. This is partly because so many animals are now being confiscated - most of these are in such poor condition that they would die if released into the wild. Some of these zoos (operating within the law) try to breed wild animals in spite of the limited experience of local people in caring for wild animals. However, in places like Binh Chau Hot Springs near the resort city of Vung Tau, it appears that small mangeries are seen as a tourist attraction. Cages here are designed to impress and perhaps frighten visitors about the dangers of Tay Ngueyn or Primitive Jungle. The photo at the left shows a cage with a number of long-tailed macaques, Macaca fascicularis. Behind and to the left is 3 metre high concrete structure in the form of an enormous coiled snake, entrapping a frightened deer. The legality of such zoos, not to mention their environmental message, is dubious. Please visit this page which shows more photos of this zoo: 'Report on Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu Reserve' [URL: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~vern/binh-chau/phuoc-buu.html] Location: Binh Chau Hot Springs, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province Date: November, 1996 Credit: Vern Wewitzel

Prepared by Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel@gmail.com>
Australia Vietnam Science-Technology Link