Vietnam: Illegal trade of dugongs uncovered

Vietnam News 8 Sep 12;

KIEN GIANG — An illegal trade network of dugongs and other marine species in southern Kien Giang Province's Phu Quoc Island has been detected by Wildlife At Risk (WAR), a HCM City-based non-profit organisation, following reports from local residents.

WAR informed the island's local authority for further investigation and confiscation.

Locals had previously informed WAR that a 100-kg dugong - a large marine mammal species classified as critically endangered in the Viet Nam Red Book and listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red Book - had been killed and sold to local restaurants at a retail price of VND400,000-550,000 (US$19-26) per kilo.

Dugongs are typically hunted for food, traditional medicine or jewellery purposes. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands are the only marine places in Viet Nam with a dugong population of less than 100. — VNS

Endangered marine mammal slaughtered on Phu Quoc Island
Thanhnien News 7 Sep 12;

The Ho Chi Minh City-based non-profit organization Wildlife At Risk (WAR) has asked authorities on Phu Quoc Island to tighten protections of an endangered dugong population after the organization became aware of recent poaching incident.

WAR director Nguyen Vu Khoi said that a 100-kilogram dugong had been caught on the beach earlier that week, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported on Friday.

The animal was slaughtered and sold to restaurants by the poacher, before WAR officials could intervene.

By the time the organization confronted the poacher, the dugong meat had all been sold and only the skin remained, Khoi said.

According to WAR, dugongs live along the coast of Vietnam’s Phu Quoc and Con Dao Islands.

The marine mammal is protected under Vietnamese law.