Wild animals are being kept in abject conditions in a private zoo in the southern province of Long An.
Tigers from South Africa
The VND280bn (USD13.3m) zoo was built in 2012 yet is only expected to go into operation next year. My Quynh is supposed to include bird, rhino, reptile, bear and hoofed-animal enclosures. The My Quynh Zoo website claims they can care for 3,000 animals from all around the world.
However, the photos of the zoo recently show poor infrastructure with flimsy-looking cages.
According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of October 14, 2015, 37 animals from HCM City were transferred to My Quynh Zoo in Duc Hoa District. They included ten white rhinos, nine tigers and nine lions. However due to poor infrastructure and conditions, My Quynh Zoo ‘lent’ out 14 rhinos and gave away eight lions and six tigers to Phu Quoc Zoo. On February 25, one tiger died at My Quynh Zoo.
The zoo is located near factories and constantly bombarded by noise from passing traffic.
Rhinos at My Quynh Zoo
Five rhinos are set to roam free in a two-hectare area, but they are largely left in the sun most of the time so their skin has dried up.
Huynh Thi Phep, deputy head of provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment said, "The management board of My Quynh Zoo have already submitted their environment impact assessments but haven't reported whether they complete the proposed measures and constructions or not."
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have demanded that the management board of My Quynh Zoo rapidly complete construction, implement better management systems to improve the conditions for the animals and implement a better visitor experience.