A wildlife rescue center with a 100 percent success rate

Staff at the Hoang Lien Tourism and Biodiversity Conservation Center work around the clock to care for, rehabilitate, and return injured and confiscated wildlife to their natural habitat, a labor that is at once a professional duty and an enduring commitment to life in the ancient forest.

Each morning, before the mist has lifted from the mountain slopes of Hoang Lien, the center's technical staff are already at work, inspecting enclosures, monitoring animal health, preparing food, and watching for the smallest changes in the behavior of animals in their care. From birds and reptiles to rare protected species, every individual is tracked under strict technical protocols.

In the first quarter of 2026, the center handled 11 rescue cases involving 26 individuals across nine species. Notably, every single one of those animals survived, a 100 percent success rate.

Behind those numbers lies an extraordinary level of dedication. Many animals arrive severely injured, physically depleted, or behaviorally compromised after being kept in captivity or displaced from their natural environments. Restoring them demands patience, precision, and deep specialized knowledge.

Chu Van Tan, a technical officer with 16 years at the center, described the nature of the work. "Wildlife care and rescue is a specialized task that requires persistence, attention to detail, and a strong sense of responsibility," he said. "Each animal we receive has its own biology, behavioral patterns, and degree of trauma, you cannot apply a one-size-fits-all care protocol. We have to continuously monitor health, adjust diet, and fine-tune the living environment to give each individual the best possible chance of recovery."

Tan identified the greatest challenge as receiving animals that arrive in a critical state, gravely wounded, severely malnourished, or deeply traumatized from illegal hunting or captivity. Extreme highland weather conditions, particularly during winter, compound the difficulty. Yet for those in this line of work, he said, the greatest reward is witnessing a recovered animal deemed ready for release back into the wild.

La Van Toi, director of the center, emphasized the individualized approach that underpins every case. "Each animal has distinct biological characteristics, behaviors, and health conditions," he said. "Our technical staff must develop tailored care plans and closely monitor every stage of recovery, restoring physical condition while also rekindling wild instincts, before any release can be considered." He noted that some individuals require weeks to recover, while others may need months to readapt to a semi-wild environment.

One of the center's key methodologies is environmental enrichment, the deliberate creation of spaces that closely simulate natural conditions to stimulate movement, foraging behavior, and survival instincts. Enclosures are designed species by species, with attention to safety, hygiene, and freedom of natural movement. During cold spells, staff reinforce insulation, add heating equipment, and adjust dietary portions to boost immune resilience.

If rescue is the process of reclaiming life, then release is its crowning achievement. During the first quarter, the center organized two release operations, returning 49 individuals from 17 species to the wild, the result of thorough monitoring, rehabilitation, and assessment before each animal was deemed ready to re-enter the forest.

"The moment you open the enclosure and watch a healthy animal return to nature on its own terms, that always carries a particular emotion for everyone in this work," Toi said. "It is the greatest reward, and the reason we keep coming back to this job."

The center currently manages 107 individuals across 29 species, many of which appear on the priority protection list established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. These animals represent an irreplaceable genetic heritage with profound significance for biodiversity conservation across the Hoang Lien region.

Beyond wildlife rescue, the center runs parallel efforts in plant conservation, currently maintaining nearly 4,800 specimens across 108 species. Programs for cultivating and propagating medicinal plants and rare indigenous flora continue to be expanded as part of a comprehensive conservation ecosystem.

Community outreach is also a pillar of the center's work. Environmental education initiatives aim to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting wild animals. A recent "Golden Bell" quiz competition held in Ban Ho commune drew 100 students and served as one of several efforts to carry the conservation message to younger generations.

Toi called on the broader public to become active participants in protecting wildlife. "We hope people will raise their awareness, stop hunting, keeping, or trading wild animals illegally, and proactively report or surrender any animals they encounter that need rescue," he said. "Every small action contributes to maintaining ecological balance."

In the vast forests of Hoang Lien, the work of wildlife rescue continues quietly, day after day. Each life saved, each successful release, returns another thread to the fabric of the ancient woodland. It is not only the result of professional responsibility, it is testimony to a love of nature and a determination to preserve the green of Hoang Lien's mountains for this generation and those yet to come.