Increasing online shopping behavior
Recently, due to increased inspection and handling of wild bird trading at gathering places and local markets, many people have switched to transacting on cyberspace to avoid control by authorities.
Following some personal pages or Facebook and Zalo groups, it is not difficult to come across images of live wild birds, processed wild birds, along with many attractive invitations such as: "Hurry up and eat the cauldron, guys! The season is almost over! Delicious and fatty!"; "Natural wild duck! Make a bowl of blood pudding and run out of dipping sauce! Guys, hurry up"; "Sparrows, guys! Grilled and roasted, so delicious it will melt your tongue", "There are still dozens of cauldrons - ginseng lotus - wild chicken - teal - fresh and plump earthworms"; "Last cauldron of the season - very flavorful, whoever wants to eat, please come"; "At the end of the season, there are some plump Ginseng Sen, whoever is quick, please be quick"...
It is worth noting that most of the posts are posted on public groups with tens of thousands of members and openly include contact phone numbers, without any need to be anonymous or conceal anything.
Our reporter pretended to be a buyer and tried to contact a Facebook account that regularly posts about selling wild birds. This person revealed: Wild birds are collected from the people. Whenever they catch something, they will report it, not just because they like it. Then the subject also enthusiastically advised which species are nutritious, which species are delicious, the weight, the price of each type, as well as how to process them and even undertakes the preliminary processing if the customer requests.
Dozens of violations have been handled.
According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, implementing Directive No. 04/CT-TTg dated May 17, 2022 of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent tasks and solutions to conserve wild and migratory birds in Vietnam; Document No. 253/UBND-VP3 dated June 6, 2022 of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee on the implementation of Directive No. 04/CT-TTg dated May 17, 2022, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the Forest Protection Department to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to strengthen inspection, prevent and strictly handle violations of hunting, capturing, killing, captivity, buying, selling, transporting, trading, processing, storing and illegally consuming wild animals in general and wild and migratory birds in particular according to regulations. In which, the focus is on key areas such as districts and cities: Nho Quan, Hoa Lu, Gia Vien, Kim Son, Yen Mo, Tam Diep.
From June 2022 to November 2023, the Forest Protection Department detected and handled 17 violations, confiscating 725 birds of various species, 1 long-tailed macaque, 33 Ráo Trâu snakes, and 1 cobra; At the same time, coordinating with relevant forces to inspect, verify and remove information about the sale of wild animals online by violators. Together with the Forest Protection force, the Provincial Police also focused on strengthening reconnaissance work in key areas, and subjects showing signs of hunting wild animals and migratory birds. As a result, 29 violations related to wild birds were detected and handled, confiscating 232 birds of various species. In addition, Kim Son Border Guard Station and Squadron 2 closely coordinated with the Forest Protection force to regularly patrol and inspect coastal alluvial areas and mangrove forests; Detected and handled 1 subject using illegal hunting gun.
Thanks to the involvement and strengthening of inspection, prevention and handling of violations in hunting, capturing and trading wild birds by the authorities, according to our observations, during the peak of the migratory bird season (September to November) this year, hotspots such as Yen Thang Lake (border between Tam Diep City and Yen Mo District) or traditional markets absolutely no longer have scenes of open and widespread trading of wild birds as before.
Need more synchronization and determination
However, in addition to the achieved results, in reality, due to limitations in human resources, means, and investment funds for the protection of wild and migratory birds; in some localities, propaganda, patrol, and inspection work is not regular, so violations of hunting, capturing, and trading of wild birds still occur in some places.
Just recently, in just one afternoon following a member of the Vietnam Bird Research and Conservation Association, we encountered two consecutive cases of trapping wild birds. Specifically: In Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien district, there was a case of people placing loudspeakers to play bird sounds to trap sparrows; in the area along the Nam Ria dike, in Son Lai commune, Nho Quan district, there was a case of a subject using decoy storks and herons placed on the surface of a fish pond to trap wild birds...
Mr. Nguyen Van Duong, Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, assessed: Preventing the hunting of wild birds still faces many difficulties due to the large area, limited forces, and insufficient sanctions to handle violators. Furthermore, some agencies, units, and localities have not paid due attention and have not been proactive in protecting wild and migratory birds. Coordination between functional forces to organize propaganda, patrol, and control has not been regular and continuous. Meanwhile, the situation of illegal trading and consumption of wild animals and wild birds is more complicated and sophisticated when many transactions are posted on cyberspace.
Hunting, capturing and exterminating wild and migratory birds not only negatively impacts the ecological balance, environment and human health safety, but also affects the reputation and image of Vietnam in the international arena. With Ninh Binh, we are building the image of a friendly and hospitable tourist destination with pristine and pure nature, so it is necessary to completely end this situation. In the coming time, it is necessary to have more synchronous and drastic coordination among the forces. In addition, it is recommended that the Provincial People's Committee pay attention to providing annual funding for the protection of wild animals, wild and migratory birds; supplement human resources, means and support tools for departments, branches and localities to carry out this work. In addition, competent authorities also need to consider amending, supplementing and promulgating relevant legal regulations to protect wild and migratory birds as well as strengthening sanctions for related violations.
In the immediate future, it is necessary to strictly handle websites, groups and individuals who are openly selling wild birds on the Internet. As for the people, let's say no to buying, selling and using wild birds and proactively fight and denounce violations of the law on wildlife management and protection.
Article and photos: Ha Phuong
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