An old woman in Thu Duc City delivered 2 otters to the rangers

Two small clawed otters that Mrs. Nguyen Thi An (72 years old, living in Hiep Phu ward, Thu Duc city) assigned to the HCMC Forest Protection Department – Photo: NGOC KHAI

According to an officer of the HCMC Forest Protection Department, the two otters that Ms. An voluntarily handed over were small-clawed otters (scientific name is Aonyx cinereus), each weighing about 4kg. The small-clawed otter is a rare and endangered forest animal (according to Decree 84/2021/ND-CP).

HThe above otters were brought to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station by the Ho Chi Minh City rangers to rescue and take care of their health before releasing them into the natural environment.

Ms. Nguyen Thi An’s area (72 years old, living in Hiep Phu ward, Thu Duc city) raises two otters – Photo: NGOC KHAI

Exchange with Youth OnlineMs. An said that around November, 2021, she was walking on Hoang Huu Nam Street (Thu Duc City) when she saw a person intending to put away two animals in a basket. “It’s very pitiful to see people abandoning two animals like that, so I can’t help but say they let me raise them,” Ms. An said.

Mrs. An then brought the two animals home. Through some people, An knew that these were two otters. Every day in the cage area, Mrs. An and her relatives feed the otters as well as take care of the otters.

When she learned that otters are rare animals, with the hope that they will be better cared for, Ms. An chose to hand over the two animals to the authorities.

Ms. An went to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden to find out about the delivery of two otters and was informed by the people here as well as contacted the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department to coordinate the reception of the otters.