On January 23, 2025, during a mission in the Pom Lót village area, Pom Lót commune, the working group of the Điện Biên district Police, Điện Biên province carried out a routine check and discovered, arrested Và A Nhìa (residing in Hua Thanh village, Na Ư commune) for violating regulations regarding the protection of endangered species. The seized item was a live pangolin weighing 3kg. Through interrogation at the police station, Và A Nhìa admitted that he had caught the pangolin in the forest and brought it to the district center to sell for profit.

Previously, based on crime tip-offs from the public, authorities discovered a particularly serious violation in Yên Cang 2 village, Sam Mứn commune, Điện Biên District. Specifically, at the home of Lường Văn Anh (born in 1977), the police caught a group of offenders in the act of illegally slaughtering a tiger weighing about 220kg. The involved individuals included Ngô Sỹ Thành (born in 1976), from Quỳ Hợp district, and Ngô Sỹ Tiến (born in 1967), from Vinh city, Nghệ An province. Through interrogation, the group confessed to purchasing a live tiger in Nghệ An, and then transporting it by car to Điện Biên to slaughter and cook it for sale. The evidence seized at the scene included a dead tiger, three knives, an electric shock device, a car, and several other related items.

Although the law strictly prohibits activities related to the hunting, transportation, and trade of wildlife, many offenders still violate these laws due to the high profits involved. Statistics from 2020 to the present show that local authorities in the province have discovered and dealt with hundreds of related cases. During this period, 364 rare wildlife specimens and 2,456 common animal specimens were seized, and 65 offenders were processed for violating forest protection regulations.

Điện Biên is one of the localities with a rich ecosystem and is home to many rare and endangered wildlife species. Therefore, it is a target area for illegal hunting and trade.

In response to this situation, local authorities have proactively implemented various measures, with a focus on prevention. From 2020 until now, the forestry force has conducted nearly 2,000 patrols, involving over 65,000 participants. The information campaign has also been widely spread to remote areas. To improve communication effectiveness in these areas, materials have been prepared and translated into Mông and Thái languages and broadcast through loudspeakers in villages. Additionally, thousands of flyers have been distributed to the people, helping to spread the message of wildlife protection within the community. As a result, many local residents have voluntarily handed over endangered species or provided timely information about violations to authorities.

For example, on June 2, Lò Văn Phương (from the Residential Quarter No.1, Mường Nhé commune, Mường Nhé district) found a golden pheasant in his garden. After recognizing it as an endangered species, he contacted the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve Management Board to hand it over. Earlier, in late March 2025, the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve Management Board, in coordination with the Mường Nhé Forestry Department, released two golden monkeys (Macaca mulatta), a species listed in the endangered, rare group IIB, which were rescued from illegal captivity and handed over to the local authorities.

Diệp Văn Chính, Director of the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve Management Board, shared: “Each rescued and released wildlife specimen is a precious opportunity to restore biodiversity and maintain ecological balance. The proactive handing over of endangered species by the people not only reflects an increasing awareness of nature conservation but also shows the clear effectiveness of communication and advocacy efforts within the community.”

Along with communication and handling violations, authorities have increased management of wildlife breeding activities. Currently, there are 82 wildlife breeding facilities in the province, of which 17 breed endangered species listed in CITES, such as the Malayan civet, monocled cobra, and yellow-cheeked gibbon. These facilities are required to ensure proper conditions for cages, environmental sanitation, and undergo regular inspections by the relevant authorities.

Hà Lương Hồng, Director of the provincial Forestry Sub-department, stated: “We have always identified education, awareness-raising, and community engagement as the core solution for wildlife protection.”

According to Hồng, wildlife protection is not the responsibility of the forestry force or government agencies alone. It is a shared responsibility of society, from local authorities to political-social organizations and every citizen. “Only with the coordinated effort and support of the entire political system and the community can we create a strong collective force to prevent and effectively combat acts that harm wildlife and the ecological environment,” emphasized Hồng.