Cat Tien National Park One of Vietnam’s largest and best protected National Parks 71,920 hectares (278 square miles) = Over 66,500 football pitches!! Many different habitats
105 species of mammals!
351 species of birds!
More than 120 species of reptiles and amphibians!
Over 450 species of butterfly!
Who protects the animals? THE LAW it is illegal to hunt and sell wild animals in Vietnam.
THE KIEM LAM the forest rangers protect the forest and confiscate animals from hunters
EAST we care for confiscated animals, preparing them for life back in the wild where they belong!
WHAT is conservation? • Preventing animals from becoming extinct in the wild! • WHY? Wildlife is under threat, and the biggest threat is human behaviour • Can you think of any threats that people pose to animals?
THREATS to wildlife • DEFORESTATION/CUTTING DOWN TREES • HUNTING/WILDLIFE TRADE • POLLUTION • And much much more... SOLUTIONS: CONSERVATION ACTIONS, RESEARCH, EDUCATION
The ILLEGAL wildlife trade • Biggest threat to Vietnamese endangered primates • Animals are hunted for consumption, use in traditional medicine, as pets and in tourist attractions (amusement parks, tourist rest stops, restaurants ..) • WILD ANIMALS STAY WILD AND BELONG IN THE FOREST
Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre
What do we do? REHABILITATION & RELEASE We specialise in 4 species All are endangered & native to Cat Tien National Park
BLACK-SHANKED DOUC
SILVERED LANGUR
GOLDEN CHEEKED GIBBON
GOLDEN CHEEKED GIBBON Endangered species
Less than 5,000 left in Vietnam Around 20,000 left in Cambodia
They spend their whole lives in the trees!
PYGMY LORIS/CULI
CAN YOU SEE THE LORIS SLEEPING?
T ox ic b
ite!
THE PET TRADE
PHOTO PROPS
REHABILITATION What is rehabilitation?
Preparing and giving rescued animals the necessary skills to survive in the wild
Why rehabilitate rescued primates? • • • • •
Health and care – weak, injured, malnourished Don’t know how to interact with other animals Don’t know how to find food or what they can eat Don’t know people are bad • (stay away from HUNTERS!) Can’t or don’t know how to move through trees
Release • When the primate is healthy and shows ‘good behaviours’ it can be released if there is a suitable area • Tracked after release
How can YOU help? 1. NEVER keep a wild animal as a pet 2. NEVER have your photo taken with any wildlife at tourist attractions 3. Support charities that are helping 4. Tell people!
YOU can make a difference!
ANY QUESTIONS?