Without a paddle: U Minh Thuong forest is home to a diverse range of wild and rare species. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Truong

Otter conservation tops the agenda for U Minh Thuong

RACH GIA — About 50 Vietnamese and foreign scientific workers gathered at a seminar in this Rach Gia provincial township of Kien Giang Province early this week to discuss ways of protecting the local otter population.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Otter Research Group of Japan and the provincial department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Participants discussed measures to protect the local otters by improving the knowledge of natural resource managers and local inhabitants about the role of the otter population in U Minh Thuong (Upper U Minh) National Park.

They also discussed ways to protect the otters, devising an action programme for safeguarding these endangered animals both in the park and in adjacent areas.

Upper U Minh National Park has two kinds of otters that are in danger of becoming extinct due to illegal hunting. — VNS

www.ecologyasia.com

_________________________________________________________________________