Vietnam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang releases 17 rescued animals, bringing its 2026 total to 220

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam released 17 rescued wild animals from seven species into its forests on 8 October, according to a statement on the park's website. It was the park's fifth release this year, and it brings the number of animals returned to the wild in 2026 to 220.

A pangolin, three slow lorises and seven macaques

The largest group was seven Indochinese pig-tailed macaques. They were joined by three pygmy slow lorises, two brown hornbills, two crested goshawks, a crested serpent eagle, a Hatinh langur and a Sunda pangolin.

All of them are listed in Vietnam's Groups IB and IIB of endangered, precious and rare species, VietnamPlus reported. For Group IB animals, commercial use of specimens taken from the wild is strictly banned. For Group IIB, it is restricted.

Health checks and a site chosen for each species

The animals had been in the care of the park's center for the rescue, conservation and development of wildlife. Before release, each one had a health check and an assessment of whether it could survive on its own, according to VietnamPlus. The release sites inside the park were picked species by species, based on habitat, food, shelter and safety.

The release followed a decision by the park's management board dated 5 October. The Phong Nha forest ranger station and the People's Committee of Phong Nha commune, in Quang Tri province, supervised it.

Four small releases and one large one

The 220 animals came back to the forest in five rounds. The park's own center carried out four releases this year, returning 54 animals including the latest group. A joint release with the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center returned the other 166.

Vietnamese authorities run releases like these across the country. In August, Ho Chi Minh City forest rangers released 84 rescued animals from 13 species into the Dong Nai reserve, part of a program that has returned more than 1,400 animals since 2022.

Neither the park's statement nor the state news agency said how the 17 animals came into the center's care, or whether any of them will be tracked after release. The park has not announced a date for its next release.