Tigers in Binh Duong (Photo: Thai Thien)Binh Duong tigers in controversy
VietNamNet Bridge - Six wildlife protecting organisations have sent a letter to Vietnamese authorities, saying that the tigers in Binh Duong province may have been illegally imported from Cambodia.
The six organisations comprising the World Wildlife Fund (WFF), Wildlife at Risk (WAR), the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Education for Nature (ENV) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) have sent the letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, and Head of the Vietnam Forest Protection Agency Ha Cong Tuan.
According to those organisations, breeding tigers without clear origin is a violation of Decree 82 of the Vietnamese Government, dated August 10, 2006.
Under Decree 82/2006/ND/CP, no organisation and individual is allowed to transport or breed in cages animals of the 1B group, including tigers, without the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Representatives of the six organisations reason that there is no foundation to say that the tigers are being bred in cages for the purpose of preservation. So far there has been no case in which bred tigers have been able to live in their natural environment after they were released.
International wildlife protection experts said that the genes of those tigers were not defined and they were not in the tiger-breeding programme for preservation in the world. As a result, those tigers don’t have any value in terms of gene preservation.
As Vietnamese authorities confirm that the tiger breeding case in Binh Duong is illegal, those organisations request that the subjects involved in illegally importing those tigers be prosecuted and punished under Decree 82.
They also ask that if tiger breeders are charged with having violated the law, they have to bear expenses related to confiscation, transportation and taking care of those tigers till they die naturally.
Those tigers would be confiscated and transferred to wildlife rescue areas or zoos, which are fully equipped.
An international organisation has expressed its desire to help the Vietnamese government to build and manage a new reserve to rear tigers in Binh Duong.
“We emphasise that this is a significant opportunity for the Vietnamese government to state that the trading and breeding in cages of protected animals in any form will be not tolerated. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to prove to the international community that Vietnam has a firm and clear-cut stand on such issues and is ready to act to affirm that stand,” the letter says.
Thus, the opinion of some international organisations is contrary to Vietnamese public opinion.
On March 22, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat made a sudden visit to the tiger breeding zone of Ngo Duy Tan and praised the number-one tiger breeder of Vietnam.
The Minister said that he came to the tiger farm to witness how the tigers were being bred and to know the opinion of Mr Tan.
He discussed three options: (1) confiscate and cull the tigers; (2) confiscate and breed them in cages for releasing into nature; (3) tigers that are bred from the forest will be confiscated and the remaining tigers will still be bred by the current owners. Tiger owners are not allowed to trade tigers of the F1 generation. Tigers of the F2 generation and upwards are permitted to be traded.
According to Mr Phat, it is difficult to use the first measure in both will and sentiment so only the third one is feasible. The issue is how to complete the legal formalities and ensure good conditions for the tigers to develop.
The Minister said that anyone who breeds tigers to rescue and preserve them must be respected.
On March 23, representatives of related agencies agreed that the tigers in Binh Duong would be confiscated but the current breeders would be temporarily allowed to continue breeding them.
They once again confirmed that purchasing and breeding tigers in cages violated Vietnam’s regulations and was not suitable to international conventions that Vietnam had signed.
However, to encourage organisations and individuals to take part in protecting and developing wildlife under the laws, they suggested confiscating tigers without clear origin to transfer to subjects that are able to take care of them for preservation purposes.
They suggested that the current breeders be allowed to continue breeding the tigers temporarily. The Vietnam Forest Protection Agency will help breeders fulfill necessary formalities under the law and set up files to manage confiscated tigers.
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The tiger breeder, Ngo Duy Tan, who is breeding 23 tigers, said that because of the dangerous situation of the tigers he asked the permission of Binh Duong Province’s Party Secretary to breed them and hadn’t yet asked for a licence from the Vietnam Forest Protection Agency.
“I agree if I’m accused of not fulfilling legal procedures, not violating the laws,” he said.
He confirmed that the first purpose of breeding those tigers was for humanitarian reasons. However, in the long term, as the herd of tigers develops, business must be considered, he said. Previously, Head of the Vietnam Forest Protection Agency Ha Cong Tuan said that if those tigers were recognised legally, tigers of the F2 generation could be traded.
Mr Tan affirmed that he bred the tigers for protection only. According to him, protection is to help tigers not to be harmed or killed. Decree 32 encourages everybody to protect wildlife.
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Should not take advantage of power to persecute tiger breeders: former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet
I’ve directed relevant bodies to deal with some tiger breeding cases. Through the media I know that public opinion doesn’t agree with some measures of state agencies. It is important that measures are appropriate to moral standards and the law as well as suitable to Vietnam’s situation.
Vietnam attaches special importance to protecting wildlife, especially rare and valuable animals. However, as the implementation is poor, the forest is being destroyed and rare animals are facing extinction.
We must accept the fact that state agencies don’t have effective measures to prevent this and don’t have policies to encourage people to take care of wild animals, especially rare animals.
Models of breeding and developing wild animals (bears, tigers, crocodiles) are new and good in general. If the awareness of protecting and preventing the hunting of wild animals and encouraging people to breed them under the policy of preservation and development is grasped thoroughly in management and the whole society, the danger of the extinction of rare animals will decline.
The law exists, but it doesn’t satisfy all actual requirements of life. I’ve carefully read two decrees of the government, 139/2004/ND-CP and 32/2006/ND-CP, and found out that there are many actual issues that the law doesn’t cover.
It is time to amend and supplement the law in accordance with the facts; ensure the law, and convene the people who deserve well of wild animals and public opinion.
I see the only suitable measure is that state bodies licence those who take good care of tigers and help them take even better care of the animals.
In my opinion, there is no reason to consider the case of Mr Tan (Ngo Duy Tan) to be illegal because he has reported to the direct authorities and publicly bred the tigers for years.
Through the press I know that the relevant ministry had a meeting with related agencies and accused tiger breeders in Binh Duong of violating the law and suggested confiscating the tigers. If it is true, this is the behavior in which state agencies use their power on not only tiger breeders but also on public opinion. It proves that they don’t believe in the inferior agencies and the people who have witnessed the case from the beginning (the people in Binh Duong).
I have also heard that someone threatened that ‘illegal’ tiger breeders would be inspected by international organisations. I think international organisations set regulations to protect, preserve and develop wild animals as the ultimate goal.
I think if they come to Vietnam to see the model in which people voluntarily devote their effort, sentiment and money to animals, I would be proud to introduce those families to the world.
I hope that leaders at the highest level of the country will have a clear-cut conclusion about this issue soon.
On this occasion, I want to mention a similar case that happened long ago in Dak Lak Province. A man named Tran Nhi rescued tens of wild animals, which were about to be killed as meat and brought them home to take care of them along with his mother. This job is known by both relevant bodies and residents.
But around ten years later, those animals were confiscated, reasoning illegal origin. Mr Nhi lodged a complaint and he was immediately prosecuted and banned from leaving his residence. His mother passed away in sadness. Mr Nhi has appealed to the court but the courts of two levels have rejected his appeal and he is now waiting for the conclusion of the People’s Supreme Court. I propose the People’s Supreme Court inspect and solve the case and make public the results.
The six organisations comprising the World Wildlife Fund (WFF), Wildlife at Risk (WAR), the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Education for Nature (ENV) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) have sent the letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, and Head of the Vietnam Forest Protection Agency Ha Cong Tuan.
According to those organisations, breeding tigers without clear origin is a violation of Decree 82 of the Vietnamese Government, dated August 10, 2006.
Under Decree 82/2006/ND/CP, no organisation and individual is allowed to transport or breed in cages animals of the 1B group, including tigers, without the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Representatives of the six organisations reason that there is no foundation to say that the tigers are being bred in cages for the purpose of preservation. So far there has been no case in which bred tigers have been able to live in their natural environment after they were released.
International wildlife protection experts said that the genes of those tigers were not defined and they were not in the tiger-breeding programme for preservation in the world. As a result, those tigers don’t have any value in terms of gene preservation.
As Vietnamese authorities confirm that the tiger breeding case in Binh Duong is illegal, those organisations request that the subjects involved in illegally importing those tigers be prosecuted and punished under Decree 82.
They also ask that if tiger breeders are charged with having violated the law, they have to bear expenses related to confiscation, transportation and taking care of those tigers till they die naturally.
Those tigers would be confiscated and transferred to wildlife rescue areas or zoos, which are fully equipped.
An international organisation has expressed its desire to help the Vietnamese government to build and manage a new reserve to rear tigers in Binh Duong.
“We emphasise that this is a significant opportunity for the Vietnamese government to state that the trading and breeding in cages of protected animals in any form will be not tolerated. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to prove to the international community that Vietnam has a firm and clear-cut stand on such issues and is ready to act to affirm that stand,” the letter says.
Thus, the opinion of some international organisations is contrary to Vietnamese public opinion.
On March 22, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat made a sudden visit to the tiger breeding zone of Ngo Duy Tan and praised the number-one tiger breeder of Vietnam.
The Minister said that he came to the tiger farm to witness how the tigers were being bred and to know the opinion of Mr Tan.
He discussed three options: (1) confiscate and cull the tigers; (2) confiscate and breed them in cages for releasing into nature; (3) tigers that are bred from the forest will be confiscated and the remaining tigers will still be bred by the current owners. Tiger owners are not allowed to trade tigers of the F1 generation. Tigers of the F2 generation and upwards are permitted to be traded.
According to Mr Phat, it is difficult to use the first measure in both will and sentiment so only the third one is feasible. The issue is how to complete the legal formalities and ensure good conditions for the tigers to develop.
The Minister said that anyone who breeds tigers to rescue and preserve them must be respected.
On March 23, representatives of related agencies agreed that the tigers in Binh Duong would be confiscated but the current breeders would be temporarily allowed to continue breeding them.
They once again confirmed that purchasing and breeding tigers in cages violated Vietnam’s regulations and was not suitable to international conventions that Vietnam had signed.
However, to encourage organisations and individuals to take part in protecting and developing wildlife under the laws, they suggested confiscating tigers without clear origin to transfer to subjects that are able to take care of them for preservation purposes.
They suggested that the current breeders be allowed to continue breeding the tigers temporarily. The Vietnam Forest Protection Agency will help breeders fulfill necessary formalities under the law and set up files to manage confiscated tigers.
-----
The tiger breeder, Ngo Duy Tan, who is breeding 23 tigers, said that because of the dangerous situation of the tigers he asked the permission of Binh Duong Province’s Party Secretary to breed them and hadn’t yet asked for a licence from the Vietnam Forest Protection Agency.
“I agree if I’m accused of not fulfilling legal procedures, not violating the laws,” he said.
He confirmed that the first purpose of breeding those tigers was for humanitarian reasons. However, in the long term, as the herd of tigers develops, business must be considered, he said. Previously, Head of the Vietnam Forest Protection Agency Ha Cong Tuan said that if those tigers were recognised legally, tigers of the F2 generation could be traded.
Mr Tan affirmed that he bred the tigers for protection only. According to him, protection is to help tigers not to be harmed or killed. Decree 32 encourages everybody to protect wildlife.
-----
Should not take advantage of power to persecute tiger breeders: former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet
I’ve directed relevant bodies to deal with some tiger breeding cases. Through the media I know that public opinion doesn’t agree with some measures of state agencies. It is important that measures are appropriate to moral standards and the law as well as suitable to Vietnam’s situation.
Vietnam attaches special importance to protecting wildlife, especially rare and valuable animals. However, as the implementation is poor, the forest is being destroyed and rare animals are facing extinction.
We must accept the fact that state agencies don’t have effective measures to prevent this and don’t have policies to encourage people to take care of wild animals, especially rare animals.
Models of breeding and developing wild animals (bears, tigers, crocodiles) are new and good in general. If the awareness of protecting and preventing the hunting of wild animals and encouraging people to breed them under the policy of preservation and development is grasped thoroughly in management and the whole society, the danger of the extinction of rare animals will decline.
The law exists, but it doesn’t satisfy all actual requirements of life. I’ve carefully read two decrees of the government, 139/2004/ND-CP and 32/2006/ND-CP, and found out that there are many actual issues that the law doesn’t cover.
It is time to amend and supplement the law in accordance with the facts; ensure the law, and convene the people who deserve well of wild animals and public opinion.
I see the only suitable measure is that state bodies licence those who take good care of tigers and help them take even better care of the animals.
In my opinion, there is no reason to consider the case of Mr Tan (Ngo Duy Tan) to be illegal because he has reported to the direct authorities and publicly bred the tigers for years.
Through the press I know that the relevant ministry had a meeting with related agencies and accused tiger breeders in Binh Duong of violating the law and suggested confiscating the tigers. If it is true, this is the behavior in which state agencies use their power on not only tiger breeders but also on public opinion. It proves that they don’t believe in the inferior agencies and the people who have witnessed the case from the beginning (the people in Binh Duong).
I have also heard that someone threatened that ‘illegal’ tiger breeders would be inspected by international organisations. I think international organisations set regulations to protect, preserve and develop wild animals as the ultimate goal.
I think if they come to Vietnam to see the model in which people voluntarily devote their effort, sentiment and money to animals, I would be proud to introduce those families to the world.
I hope that leaders at the highest level of the country will have a clear-cut conclusion about this issue soon.
On this occasion, I want to mention a similar case that happened long ago in Dak Lak Province. A man named Tran Nhi rescued tens of wild animals, which were about to be killed as meat and brought them home to take care of them along with his mother. This job is known by both relevant bodies and residents.
But around ten years later, those animals were confiscated, reasoning illegal origin. Mr Nhi lodged a complaint and he was immediately prosecuted and banned from leaving his residence. His mother passed away in sadness. Mr Nhi has appealed to the court but the courts of two levels have rejected his appeal and he is now waiting for the conclusion of the People’s Supreme Court. I propose the People’s Supreme Court inspect and solve the case and make public the results.
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