On Thursday afternoon, authorities of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, located in the central province of Quang Tri, coordinated with local agencies to release 17 rescued animals back into their natural habitat.

The release followed an October 5 clearance by the park's Wildlife Rescue, Conservation, and Development Center, which confirmed all individuals had completed quarantine and health checks.

They included seven pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina), one crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela), three pygmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus), two Austen’s brown hornbills (Anorrhinus austeni), two crested goshawks (Accipiter trivirgatus), one Ha Tinh langur (Trachypithecus hatinhensis) and one Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica).

During this release, the U Bo mountain area, also in Quang Tri, was selected for the Ha Tinh langur, pig-tailed macaques and Sunda pangolin. The remaining pygmy lorises and birds were released at Phong Nha Botanical Garden.

Release sites were selected based on each species’ biology, behavior and ability to adapt. Primates were released deep in the forest, away from human contact and disturbance, to help them adjust to the wild.

Birds can continue moving to suitable habitats after being released. 

According to the management board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, releasing rescued animals back into the wild helps restore wildlife populations, conserve biodiversity and maintain ecological balance in the park.

Covering more than 123,000 hectares, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one of Vietnam’s most biodiverse areas, home to a rich variety of plant and animal species, including many rare and endangered species.