Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Vietnam seizes 17 more tonnes of smuggled pangolins

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Vietnam seizes 17 more tonnes of smuggled pangolins | Herald Sun

CUSTOMS police in Vietnam have discovered at least 17 more tonnes of slaughtered pangolins being smuggled from Indonesia to China.
The finds comes just a week after seizing a then-record seven tonnes of the endangered animals.The pangolin carcasses were found today in two containers at the port of Haiphong, 100 kilometres east of Hanoi, according to city customs official Vu Hoang Duong. "The pangolins in one of the containers weigh 8.5 tonnes, and we are still weighing those in the other container," Duong said. "The total will be at least 17 tonnes." Duong said the containers, like the one seized last week, were registered as fresh fish and were on their way from Indonesia to China, transiting through Haiphong. "It's an amazing number of pangolins being smuggled, including the seven tonnes we detected last week," Duong said. "I think many Chinese people love eating wild animals, including pangolins." Duong said officials had not yet decided what to do with the pangolin carcasses. The scaly anteaters are a protected species in Vietnam, and it is illegal to transport or trade them. Animal smuggling is widespread in Vietnam, where eating wild game, such as snakes, bears and even tigers, is an elite hobby. In January, customs officials at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport seized 1.5 tonnes of live snakes in the cargo hold of a commercial flight from Bangkok. The snakes, registered as fish, were also destined for China. Last year, Vietnam seized more than 66 tonnes of smuggled wild animals, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's Forest Protection Department.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.