Kon Ka Kinh National Park returns 24 protected animals to the wild

Twenty-four endangered and rare wild animals have returned to forest in Vietnam’s Kon Ka Kinh National Park after completing rehabilitation. The animals were released on 19 August 2026 in Gia Lai province, following assessments that found all were healthy, had recovered essential wild behaviour and could survive independently.

The group included Sunda pangolins and pygmy slow lorises, both protected under Vietnam’s Group IB classification, alongside stump-tailed, rhesus and long-tailed macaques, clouded monitors, reticulated pythons, and several turtle and tortoise species. Collectively, the animals fell within the country’s Group IB and IIB protections for endangered, precious and rare forest wildlife.

They had arrived at the park’s rescue, conservation and biodiversity centre in July through voluntary handovers by residents and cooperation with provincial authorities. Some were weak, badly injured or exhausted, while others had lost natural survival behaviours. Staff provided veterinary treatment, appropriate nutrition and rehabilitation to restore those behaviours. Before release, checks considered health, behaviour, foraging ability and readiness for life without human care.

Local forest rangers and authorities supervised transport and release procedures, and the centre said it would continue monitoring how the animals adapt. Officials also reported that voluntary wildlife handovers in Gia Lai are increasing, suggesting greater public recognition of the harm caused by illegal capture, captivity and trade.