Da Nang fines man for breaking tree branches in protected forest to pick wild fruit

The Son Tra–Ngu Hanh Son forest protection unit said N.V.P., a resident of Son Tra Ward, led a group of tourists on an unsanctioned trip into the Son Tra Nature Reserve on Thursday. 

While exploring an area known as Ho Sau, the group attempted to collect fruit from a choi moi (Antidesma ghaesembilla) tree, a native species common in central Vietnam.

According to forest rangers, the visitors initially tried to shake the tree to retrieve the fruit. 

When that failed, P. climbed the tree and broke off branches to bring the fruit down. 

The incident was witnessed by a passerby who warned the group before leaving the area.

Rangers arrived at the scene shortly after and found eight individuals, including seven tourists, engaged in picking the fruit. 

They were ordered to stop and a report was filed on site. 

P. was later summoned for questioning and admitted to organizing the activity and breaking the branches.

Ngo Truong Chinh, head of the Son Tra–Ngu Hanh Son forest protection unit, said P. was fined VND1.25 million for organizing the unauthorized collection of biological specimens without permission from the forest authority.

The Son Tra Peninsula is a popular ecotourism destination in central Vietnam, valued for its proximity to Da Nang's center and its intact natural forest ecosystem. 

Wildlife in the area, including monkeys and the endangered red-shanked douc langur, rely on native fruit such as choi moi for food.

Images of the group breaking branches circulated widely on social media, sparking criticism from conservation advocates.