Caught a rare wild animal, a Hue man called the forest ranger hotline immediately.

On August 12, according to news from the Forest Protection Department of Huong Thuy town (Thua Thien Hue), this agency has just received rare wild animals voluntarily handed over by local people.

The rare wild animal received is a monitor lizard (scientific name Varanus salvator) weighing 7 kg and in normal health condition.

A rare monitor lizard was voluntarily handed over by Mr. Le Chong to the Forest Protection Department of Huong Thuy town. Photo: KL

This monitor lizard belongs to the List of endangered, precious and rare forest plants and animals, group IIB, as stipulated in Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP of the Government on amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 06/2019/ND-CP of the Government on management of endangered, precious and rare forest plants and animals and implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

This monitor lizard was caught by Mr. Le Chong (residing in Thuy Phu commune, Huong Thuy town) when the animal was "lost". Knowing that this is a rare wild animal, Mr. Chong contacted the forest rangers via hotline to hand it over for release into the wild.

After receiving it, Huong Thuy Town Forest Protection Department is taking care of and raising the monitor lizard while waiting for completion of legal procedures to release it into the natural environment.

According to the Huong Thuy Town Forest Ranger Department, Mr. Chong's voluntary handover of the monitor lizard demonstrated the people's awareness of joining hands to protect wildlife, thereby making an important contribution to biodiversity conservation.