“Going Home” tour provides wildlife releasing for tourists

Cuc Phuong National Park (in Ninh Binh province) has recently launched the “Going Home”- the first ever tour service of its kind in Vietnam that allow tourists to release rescued animals back to nature by themselves.

Cuc Phuong National Park's activity of releasing the rescued wildlife back to nature is introduced for the first time. Photo: VNA

On the first day of the service inauguration on March 20, some visitors to the Cuc Phuong National Park were invited to participate in the release of 92 individuals of 17 wildlife species to their wild home.

Among them, there are many pythons, snakes, birds and monkeys rescued from illegal wildlife trade and transport in the area. After being rescued, cared for and trained to restore their wild instincts, all these healthy animals will be freed and sent back to the primary forest at Cuc Phuong National Park.

Over the years, thousands of wild animals of different species have been released to nature in Cuc Phuong primary forest and many other national parks and nature reserves across the country. However, for the first time, this exciting experience is presented to visitors.

The moment which a wild animal is released to the nature will bring a positive feeling to people. Photo: VNA.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, said that the ultimate and greatest purpose of wildlife care and rescue is to bring them back to nature. Therefore, releasing wildlife after rescue is always an important and emotional work.

“I believe that the moment when a wild animal is released to the nature will bring a positive feeling towards nature in general and wildlife in particular to visitors. Thereby, the activity can improve their awareness and responsibility about wildlife protection,” said Mr. Chinh.

Mr. Chinh hopes that each visitor visiting Cuc Phuong National Park will become an “ambassador” to help the national reserve to spread the message of nature conservation widely among the people. 

It is the time for flying home. Photo: VNA

Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong is the oldest national park in Vietnam. The park is located around 120km southwest from Hanoi and nestled in the conjunction of three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa.

Cuc Phuong Park boasts an engaging cultural and wildlife heritage and enchanting scenery with magnificent limestone mountains rise up majestically from the green rice-terraces and traditional stilt houses of the Muong ethnic minority people.

Covered in a dense forest, this landscape forms the habitat for some of Asia's rarest animal and plant species. It is no wonder that researchers, naturalists, enthusiasts and conservationists alike are drawn to this corner of the world.