Hanoi strives to protect wildlife amid Covid-19 resurgence

Luong Xuan Hong, director of the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center, told Hanoitimes about his center’s efforts in 2021 and the coming years.

In the face of a fresh coronavirus outbreak, how did your center take measures to ensure safety for wild animals?

From the beginning of the year, we have mapped out a plan for Covid-19 prevention and control with three levels. On May 6, as soon as it was reported that Hanoi’s suburban district of Soc Son confirmed one novel coronavirus patient, we all staff have been ready for the outbreak prevention work at the highest level.

We have assigned staff to be on duty in the area 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, building fences to isolate the zoo area to ensure an absolutely safe environment.

We have established two teams to work in shifts in the isolation area for at least 2-3 weeks. Both the teams and wildlife have been provided with basic necessities and food.

Director of the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center Luong Xuan Hong (right) releases wild animals at Cuc Phuong National Park in April 2021. Photo: The Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center

We have paid special attention to the wildlife’s health care. The number of staffs in the center is halved, the workload is doubled, but everyone has a high sense of fulfilling their responsibilities.

Has the Covid-19 pandemic affected the center's wildlife reception and rescue?

We are under huge pressure due to the great amount of workload.

We officials and employees have to travel a lot to receive and rescue wild animals amid the Covid-19 outbreak, then caring them while strictly implementing all pandemic prevention and control measures. We are trying best efforts to fight against the outbreak to protect our health and ensure safety for the wild animals as well.

Since early this year, we have released 169 wild animals to Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh and 42 rare wildlife to Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai. Among them, there are many rare species of wildlife such as otters, land turtles and golden turtles.

In your opinion, what is the motivation for each staff member in your center to overcome the pressure and fulfill their tasks with the highest effort and responsibility?

I am very happy that the center’s employees wholeheartedly take part in the Covid-19 prevention plan, which is fully deployed. The priority has always been to ensure the safety of staff and wild animals amid the Covid-19 resurgence.

The center always requires and supervises employees to work in accordance with the correct procedures. When being well cared for, animals will be healthy. Thanks to this optimal measure, the rate of wild animals getting sick at the center is very low.

In addition, the center focuses on improving welfare for wild animals. When humans approach and treat them amicably, wild animals will not be stressed. This is the advanced working method my center aspires to take on.

Has the center's cooperation with international organizations been interrupted?

In recent days, the Covid-19 pandemic has become increasingly serious, thus our cooperation with international organizations needs to be changed adapt to the situation. Since our partners could not come, we have conducted online exchanges with foreign experts via a Internet.

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