Introduction
Southeast Asia’s growing middle class has driven demand for exotic pets, meats, and animal parts used for luxury goods and traditional medicines. In Vietnam, a destination country for trafficked animal products, rising demand has motivated wildlife trafficking rings to expand their activities domestically and internationally, putting the country’s rich biodiversity under pressure from indiscriminate and widespread trap use.
As trafficking rings become more sophisticated and entrenched, conservation groups have also had to adapt, embracing new technologies and deepening their own networks to combat wildlife crime. One group working to stay ahead of traffickers is Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), which has partnered with several national parks to implement antipoaching practices in Vietnam’s richest and most targeted ecosystems.
The Antipoaching Unit (APU)
Pu Mat National Park, tracing the border of Vietnam and Laos, is an example of how rich biodiversity and many endemic species are suffering growing pressure from poaching activity. Since 2018, SVW has worked in partnership with the park and its rangers to support the recruitment, equipping, and training of a dedicated antipoaching unit, or APU.
Since its inception, the APU has removed tens of thousands of snares, dismantled poaching camps, confiscated firearms, and detained over 1,000 alleged violators. Its approach integrates tools such as the SMART data aggregation software and remotely monitored “PoacherCams” to identify trafficking hotspots and guide patrols more strategically.
Community Outreach Efforts
Additionally, outreach efforts with local communities aim to reduce both the supply of and demand for illegally sourced wildlife. APU coordinator Huu Trung Nguyen highlights the importance of a targeted, data-driven approach to combating wildlife crime.
Conclusion
The APU’s innovative approach in Vietnam is an example of how technology and collaboration can be used to protect wildlife and combat environmental crime. It is crucial that similar efforts are replicated in other regions to protect global biodiversity.
Source / Reference: Mongabay