In a separate case, Tran Ngoc Khiem’s family in the same commune handed over a pygmy slow loris they found in their garden. The animal was released into the wild on August 7.
The slow loris is listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book and classified in Group IB, the highest legal protection level, covering endangered and rare species under CITES.
The Nam Cat Tien Protective Forest Management Board said local residents who hand over rare wildlife play an important role in protecting species at risk of extinction. The board currently manages nearly 14,200 hectares of strictly protected forest land.