Australian Embassy helps centre with care for suspectedly smuggled wallabies

A wallaby under care at the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

The first wallaby was discovered in nature and caught by residents in Duc Long commune of Thach An district in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, on November 8, 2023. Two more were found by local police and people the next day, and another on November 11.

The animals later were sent to the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development of the Hoang Lien National Park for care in a semi-natural habitat.

However, two of the wallabies died due to the stress caused by the long distance between Cao Bang and Lao Cai, the cold in winter, and illness. The two remainders are adapting well to the new environment, said veterinarian Tran Thu Nga, who is caring for the macropods.

The Australian Embassy said on January 26 that visiting the centre, it's representatives presented 80 million VND (over 3,200 USD) in financial aid to help the centre continue caring for the wallabies.

At the meeting, Director of the Hoang Lien centre La Van Toi said Vietnam is a hot spot of wildlife trafficking, and that the wallabies are the first and only foreign-origin animals at the centre.

He expressed his hope that the embassy will help the centre connect with animal rescue organisations, experts, and volunteers to better care for the plants and animals here, including the wallabies.

Local authorities noted there are no wallabies in nature in Vietnam, so the animals could have been abandoned when smugglers were uncovered by forest rangers.

Wild animals endemic to Australia can only be exported for non-commercial purposes like exhibiting at zoos. Any individual and organisation accused of committing illegal wildlife trade will be investigated and fined or imprisoned if found guilty, according to the Wildlife Trade Office of Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment./.