An Giang: Effectiveness of wildlife protection awareness campaigns.

The above results were achieved thanks to the coordination between the Forest Protection Department and the An Giang Provincial Police, along with hundreds of mobile propaganda campaigns, local radio broadcasts, and commitment signing ceremonies in residential areas and religious establishments.

Since then, people have become more proactive in saying no to the illegal consumption and trade of wild animals. Recently, on October 1st, Ms. Néang Kim Lam, the caretaker of Sóc Triết Pagoda in Cô Tô commune, handed over the animals to the Cô Tô commune police. These were animals that Buddhist followers brought to Sóc Triết Pagoda for release.

Previously, on September 29th, Mr. Nguyen Huu An, residing in To Thuy hamlet, Tri Ton commune, caught a turtle while collecting golden apple snails. Due to awareness campaigns about wildlife protection, Mr. An did not keep it as a pet, butcher it, or sell it, but immediately brought it to the Tri Ton commune police station to hand it over.

This turtle was identified as a large land turtle, weighing over 6kg, belonging to group IIB in the list of endangered and rare forest animals that need protection. After receiving it, the Tri Ton Commune Police contacted the Tri Ton Area 1 Forest Protection Unit to hand over the turtle.

In early September, Mr. Phan Thanh Trung, residing in Vinh Ha hamlet, An Cu commune, was inside his house when he suddenly heard the loud squawking and flapping of wings outside. Surprised, he ran out to investigate. It was the sound of a large bird caught in a fishing net that was being dried.

Upon closer inspection, Mr. Trung recognized it as a ground phoenix. He said, "This bird has a very large beak and beautiful plumage. People in the mountainous areas call it the ground phoenix. They used to be very common, but now they are becoming less common."

Knowing it was a rare bird, Mr. Trung immediately removed it from the net and handed it over to the An Cu Commune Police. After verification, the Forest Protection Department of Region I determined that the bird was a crane, also known as a yellow crane.

In folklore, they are called "earth phoenixes," rare and precious birds listed in Category IIB. The Forest Protection Unit of Region 1 and the An Cu Commune Police have released the birds into the Nui Cam protected forest area in An Cu Commune.

Individuals who surrendered wildlife were commended by local authorities and forest rangers for their sense of responsibility, and this served as a call for the community to join hands in wildlife protection, contributing together to the preservation of rare and endangered species.

According to the report, from the beginning of 2026 to the present, the An Giang Forest Protection Department has received 28 species with more than 330 individuals. Notably, many rare and endangered species such as sandpipers, Javan pangolins, giant tortoises, red-faced monkeys, etc., were received through voluntary surrender by organizations and individuals in the area.

An Giang province, with its diverse ecosystem encompassing mountains, forests, seas, and lagoons, is a key area for wildlife management and protection. The latest report from the Provincial Forest Protection Department paints a comprehensive picture of positive changes in community awareness, alongside significant challenges regarding rescue infrastructure and management pressures.

The challenge lies at the Hon Me Wildlife Rescue Station in Kien Luong commune – which was primarily designed to rescue bears. However, when receiving wild animals, they are all brought here for rescue, thus increasing the number of animals kept in captivity.

The station is required to renovate and temporarily repurpose space to accommodate a sufficient variety of animals, from mammals and primates to reptiles and birds. The entire existing system of cages and enclosures is already operating at full capacity.

Furthermore, the distance for transporting confiscated or surrendered animals from remote communes and wards to the station can exceed 280km in some places. This long distance, coupled with a lack of specialized transport equipment, increases the health risks for the animals.

In some emergency situations, the forestry department has had to rely on medical assistance and examinations from the private conservation facility Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc .

To resolve this bottleneck, the An Giang Forest Protection Department has proposed solutions such as promoting digital transformation . Specifically, it has suggested that the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection provide unified guidance on the application of electronic technology.

Allowing the use of timber product manifests, facility codes, and breeding logbooks in integrated QR code and digital signature formats will significantly reduce the burden of paperwork for both management agencies and citizens.

We propose that the Provincial People's Committee consider a mechanism for initial on-site reception and care. Assigning the local Forest Protection Department or the nearest qualified unit to receive and care for the animals will reduce the burden on the Hon Me Station and minimize risks to the animals due to long-distance transportation.

Upgrading specialized infrastructure such as investing in and expanding the Hon Me Rescue Station; adding isolation areas, treatment areas, veterinary equipment, and specialized transport vehicles…