The Wildlife at Risk (WAR) and the southern province of Kien Giang on July 27 put into operation the Hon Me Rescue Station in Hon Dat district.

The facility, the third of its kind managed by WAR, was built on a site of about three hectares, with the aim of rescuing endangered rare animals in the Mekong Delta region before releasing them back into the wild.

Previously known as the “Hon Me Bear Rescue Center” project, which was jointly carried out by WAR and the Kien Giang Association of Friendship Organisations, at a cost of 500,000 USD between 2008 and 2010, the station is expected to raise capacity for rangers and public awareness of protecting animals close to extinction.

With cages, semi-wild areas and other special equipment, it is now home to 50 individuals of scarce species such as Tibetan bears, Malayan bears, pig-tailed macaques, coolies and pangolins./.