The number of pangolins in this release was the largest so far, making a total of 202 pangolins released by SVW in 2016. Most were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Hai Duong provinces.
Prior to release, the pangolins were given thorough health checks to ensure they had fully recovered from the injuries they received in the illegal wildlife trade and were micro-chipped, allowing them to be identified for future studies.
The Java pangolin is listed as an endangered species in Vietnam’s Red Book. The wild population has steadily decreased due to illegal hunting and trading for meat and traditional medicines.
Vietnam is home to two species of pangolin, Manis javanica and Manis pentadactyla, which are listed as critically endangered species and prioritized for protection.
