Having been attached to Tram Chim National Park for more than 30 years, Mr. Chanh always considers this place his home. He also longs for the day when the red-crowned cranes will return.
More than 30 years of attachment to cajuput forest
When you visit Tram Chim National Park (Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province), everyone will know Mr. Do Minh Chanh (59 years old), a security guard. Mr. Chinh is from Can Tho but has worked here since 1992.
Mr. Do Minh Chanh, a ranger who has been associated with Tram Chim National Park for more than 30 years.
Every morning, as dawn breaks, Mr. Chanh is at the observatory, his eyes following flocks of birds flying. For him, the forest is not only a workplace, but also a home.
Besides his family, Mr. Chanh devotes all his love to the forests of Tram Chim and the red-crowned cranes. Over the years, he has learned by heart the habits and calls of this bird species.
"I have been involved in protecting forests and red-crowned cranes for more than 30 years, but I have never felt tired.
Here, I have the opportunity to meet many scientists and experts, and I have learned more about the habits of red-crowned cranes. From there, I love and understand more about the importance of protecting this bird species," said Mr. Chanh.
In the early 1990s, the number of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park sometimes reached thousands.
The beauty of this rare bird fascinates those who are attached to Tram Chim. During their migration journey, red-crowned cranes usually return to Tram Chim around the beginning of January.
However, since 2001, the number of red-crowned cranes returning here has gradually decreased, causing disappointment for those who are attached to the cranes and the National Park like Mr. Chanh. By 2021, only 3 red-crowned cranes had migrated back to this land, but they were absent for the next two years...
"When the red-crowned cranes returned in large numbers, the natural food supply was not enough, so I directly supplemented the food for the cranes. The first time they saw me, the red-crowned cranes were very alert and moved further away. But the next times, when they got used to the color of the coat, the whole flock was no longer afraid," Mr. Chanh recounted.
Waiting for the cranes to re-flock
After more than 3 decades of working with the cajuput forest, Mr. Chanh has witnessed many changes. When he heard that the People's Committee of Dong Thap province was implementing the Project to conserve and develop red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park for the period 2022 - 2032, Mr. Chanh felt more motivated.
Tram Chim National Park, the 4th Ramsar site in Vietnam and the 2,000th in the world.
That joy was even more multiplied when he was assigned the responsibility of being a special tour guide, transporting groups of experts and scientists to research and find solutions to restore the ecosystem in the A4 subdivision area.
These days, Mr. Chanh is diligently working with experts to witness the restoration of the sandbank, which used to be the "common home" of thousands of red-crowned cranes. Every small step forward in the conservation effort brings him boundless happiness.
When tourists from all over gather at Tram Chim, not only does Mr. Chanh do his daily duties well, he also volunteers to drive a boat to take tourists to visit and admire the beauty of the endless green forests.
As a passionate storyteller, he shared history, the magical stories of Tram Chim forest and the red-crowned cranes. His warm voice and bright eyes inspired many people.
Love the forest more than home
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Thao (51 years old), Mr. Chanh's wife, jokingly said that her husband is "crazy" about his work, loves every patch of grass, trees, birds and animals in the forest more than he loves his wife. "He spends most of the day in the forest, sometimes coming home at dusk.
At first I was very angry, but later I saw him working hard because of the assigned responsibility and because of his love for his homeland, so I supported my husband," Ms. Thao confided.
Mr. Do Ban Ban (55 years old), a colleague who has worked with Mr. Chanh for many years, said that not only Mr. Chanh, but all those assigned to protect the forest always love the forest and the animals in the forest, especially the red-crowned crane.
"Mr. Chanh's spirit and responsibility are very high when assigned the task of protecting forests and animals to diversify ecology. At work, Mr. Chanh is always sociable, supportive and instructs his colleagues to do their best in the assigned tasks," Mr. Ban added.
Mr. Dang Tien Khoa, Head of the Forest Protection Management and Fire Prevention Department under Tram Chim National Park, said that Mr. Chanh always tries his best at work and knows how to explore and learn new things.
His dedication has motivated the garden staff, creating a longer-term commitment to their work.
"With more than 30 years of experience in the job, Mr. Chanh has a lot of experience in management, protection, forest fire prevention and fighting, and biodiversity conservation in the garden.
In particular, he is very fond of cranes. He always propagates and mobilizes people around the buffer zone to join hands to protect the forest," Mr. Khoa added.
Tram Chim National Park is 7,500 hectares wide, a wetland area, recognized as the 2,000th Ramsar site (wetland reserve) in the world and the fourth in Vietnam. This place is home to many rare bird species, especially the red-crowned crane - listed in the Red Book.
The cranes often fly from Cambodia to the garden to find food, staying from December to April of the following year before leaving. The red-crowned cranes have a proud appearance, are up to 1.8m tall and have a distinctive red color on their heads.
This bird is considered a symbol of peace, luck and sustainable development. The red-crowned crane is the tallest flying bird and is currently listed as a vulnerable species.
Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/nguoi-giu-rung-tan-tuy-o-tram-chim-192250110124958611.htm
Comment (0)