Wild animals are being kept in captivity illegally at a facility in HCMC’s Dong Hoa Ward on Dec. 15, 2025. Photo by police
Environment police under the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City officers, raided a wildlife captivity facility on Monday, discovering a menagerie of endangered animals kept without legal documentation.
The authorities found two tigers, two bears, one leopard, two yellow-cheeked gibbons, and ten crocodiles at the facility owned by a man named Ngo Duy Tan, according to Saigon Giai Phong newspaper.
At the time of the inspection, Tan failed to produce documentation proving the lawful origin of the animals. The facility reportedly has a troubled history; it had previously kept various wildlife species and was the site of a tiger escape incident that raised serious safety concerns among local residents.
The crackdown is part of a broader initiative launched in October by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to strengthen the enforcement of wildlife protection laws.
Nguyen Binh Duong, head of the Division for Forest Product Management and Violation Handling at the HCMC Forest Protection Department, stated that the facility did not meet the requirements for a breeding facility code.
“Upon inspection, the animals were identified as belonging to Group IB… which means they are endangered, precious, and rare species,” Duong said.
“Under regulations, animals in this group may only be kept at scientific research centers and are not permitted to be held by ordinary organizations or individuals without research functions,” Duong told Cong An Nhan Dan (People’s Police) newspaper.
Authorities are continuing to work with the facility owner to clarify the extent of the violations and determine the appropriate legal penalties.
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