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Tiger protection falls short of funds

HCM CITY — The tiger preservation project in central Viet Nam’s corridor forest has ended recently due to a lack of funding. According to Thua Thien Hue’s Forestry Department, the project could no longer ask for more funds.

The project was supported by the UK’s World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Japan and the Fishery and Wildlife Service of the United States since 1999. It involved forest areas in three of Viet Nam’s central provinces: Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Kon Tum.

During its four years, with funding worth US$228,000, the undertaking was considered a success by experts from the WWF-Indochina Programme.

The project conducted surveys on tigers in the area, raised the community’s awareness of natural preservation and enhanced protection staff capacity. Viet Nam’s tigers are threatened by illegal hunting and loss of habitat due to logging, which has sharply increased in the area recently.

Community organisations, such as six school "green clubs" and two clubs which promote environmental preservation for the benefit of local residents will continue to operate despite the cessation of the scheme.

Ben Hodgdon, managing director of the project, declared the initiative an overall success considering the fact that tens of thousands of local residents had taken part and benefited from environmental education.

"Central Viet Nam is an important ecological area for the Indochinese tiger, one of five tiger subspecies to be still alive," according to Professor Dang Huy Huynh, president of the Viet Nam’s Animal Research Association. "The tiger population in Viet Nam is now under 200." — VNS