Updates about the baby otters rescued in Dec 2019

The otters are growing up and ready for the rehabilitating process. The pairing and weaning tasks have been done successfully. They have been moved to enclosures and may stay here for a couple of months. Currently, they are all doing well. Their main meals are fish sometimes mixed with crabs and mussels. They seem to be very excited and curious about every new thing that we provide in their enclosure. The keeper always has an eye on them to record their activities as well as ensure they stay safe before their release.

In February, our Edu-team surveyed 23 primary schools and secondary schools in four communes of Yen Khe, Chau Khe, Mon Son, and Con Cuong. The survey has helped to understand the overview of transportation routes, facilities, experience about teaching and extracurricular activities at schools to plan for educational programs rationally and effectively.

Local houses on the way conducting the survey

Also, we have surveyed and researched places to organize experiential nature education programs to stimulate love and increase the connection between children and nature. We surveyed several locations, including Pu Mat National Park Botanical Garden, Thac Kem Forest Protection Station, Thac Kem tourist site, Pha Lai Forest Protection Station, the access road to Khe Bu and the area around Co Phat, Ban Bung, Khe Nong.

The conditions of students and local communities in some areas are really difficult in all aspects as they live almost separately from the outside town area. We deeply sympathize with the community and hope to increase the motivation for the group to develop appropriate educational programs, help children go to school and direct their actions of not depending on the forest for their living.

In February, the research team went to U Minh Thuong National Park for retrieval and replacing 30 camera traps set in December 2019. Six camera traps were damaged by animal attacks and one was stolen. Preliminary results show that seven out of 29 camera stations recorded Sunda pangolins, nine stations recorded Hairy-nosed otters, three stations recorded Leopard cat and one station filmed Small Indian civet. However, no image of Fishing cat has been found. We are sad to witness the habitat in the park is seriously threatened by pollution of water sources and noise, garbage due to tourism activities and encroachment by local people.