Heroes of the Forest

I decided to follow the forest rangers of Cat Tien National Park on a patrol, compelled by a recent and pressing incident. It was in early March 2023, when a group of poachers recklessly attacked and injured four forest rangers in Cat Tien National Park. A few days earlier, another forest ranger had been ambushed and severely injured by a group of illegal loggers.

Disseminate the patrol plan.

The patrol route is arduous.

At 5:30 a.m., Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Head of the Mobile Forest Ranger Station (Cat Tien National Park Forest Ranger District), called to urge me to prepare to join the group on forest patrol and reminded me: "Journalist, you must eat a hearty breakfast to have the energy to go into the forest." I arrived at the station at over 6 a.m., where everyone was already dressed and fully equipped. Today's patrol area was Lot 11, in Sub-area 42. Mr. Binh said that Cat Tien National Park has many wild animals, including some endangered species that need strict protection. Therefore, in addition to general forest protection, wildlife protection is a regular task for the Forest Ranger Force.

From the mobile forest ranger station, a five-person patrol team, equipped with necessary tools and weapons, set off on their motorbikes. After about 5 km of riding, they reached their planned location, hid the motorbikes at the edge of the forest, and began their trek through the woods. "We might encounter illegal loggers. But don't worry, we'll protect you," reassured me, Forest Ranger Chìu Văn Hai, who had recently been seriously injured in an attack by poachers.

Mr. Binh said he chose daytime hours and a patrol route through the forest of about 10 km like today because he didn't want to "torture the journalists." Even so, this trip was already very tiring for me. The Cat Tien primary forest is densely packed with trees, completely blocking the path. The patrol team had to push aside the trees, weave through the rough terrain, and overcome obstacles to get through. Anyone who thinks it's cool in the middle of the forest is greatly mistaken. In the hot season, there isn't a single breeze in the forest, so everyone was drenched in sweat. Perhaps due to excessive sweating, my blood pressure suddenly dropped. Thanks to having an electrolyte solution and some Ngoc Linh ginseng pills on hand, I quickly recovered my strength to continue the journey. "Today's patrol is nothing compared to many all-night patrols, or patrols lasting 3-4 days, with walking distances that can be tens of kilometers through the forest. Those trips require carrying rice, dried fish, and salted meat to cook in the forest. At night, they sleep in hammocks in the middle of the forest to ambush illegal loggers. During the rainy season, mosquitoes, leeches, slippery roads, climbing slopes, wading through streams… make it even more difficult," said Hoan, a 1995-born forest ranger.

After traveling about 4 km, the patrol team spotted suspicious tracks. Looking at the footprints imprinted on the decaying leaves, cigarette butts, and broken branches, Nguyen Van Binh concluded: "These are the tracks of poachers, but they probably left a while ago. The broken branches tell us so." However, the patrol team remained highly vigilant. Under the command of the station chief, they cautiously followed the tracks, ready to confront any poachers.

KLV Chìu Văn Hai, who was attacked and injured by a group of poachers in early March 2023.

Facing danger

Hardships and difficulties during patrols to protect forests and wildlife have become commonplace for the Forest Protection Force. 24-year-old Lai Trung Kien even jokingly says, "That's as easy as a rabbit." Facing unexpected dangers is what's truly significant and unforgettable.

In early 2023, a patrol team from the Da Lak Forest Protection Station experienced a "thrilling" encounter with an aggressive male bull. That time, after completing their patrol, the team went to the edge of the forest to get their motorbikes and start them up, preparing to head home, when suddenly a bull with sharp horns appeared out of nowhere and charged straight at them. Fortunately, the two forest rangers managed to abandon their motorbikes and run into the forest to hide. "The men survived, but the motorbikes were completely destroyed," recounted Forest Ranger Chieu Van Hai.

Attacks by wild bulls in Cat Tien National Park are not uncommon, and forest rangers don't always escape unharmed. Forest rangers there recount a story of a colleague at the Sa Mach Forest Ranger Station who was gored by a wild bull, resulting in a fractured femur.

Animal traps seized by forest rangers in Cat Tien National Park.

Incidents of being terrorized or even attacked by elephants are not uncommon. Long patrols, involving sleeping in the forest and lying in wait overnight to capture poachers in elephant-infested areas, are very dangerous. "Elephants move very quietly when entering the forest rangers' camps. If we're not vigilant, they'll destroy the camps to steal our food. Sometimes they even chase us away," said Forest Ranger Nguyen Van Tuan. Just last year, during a long patrol, a group of rangers had to go hungry because of a male elephant. "It lumbered towards the patrol team's rest stop. There's no shame in avoiding an elephant, so the whole team shouted to each other to run. When we turned back, the elephant had destroyed all the tents, hammocks, and eaten all the rice, salt, and food," Tuan recounted.

HARD WORK, LOW WAGE

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Head of the Mobile Forest Ranger Station of Cat Tien National Park, said that the job of a forest ranger is very arduous and involves many potential dangers. Forest rangers in Cat Tien National Park only get to go home to their families for 8 days each month, spending the remaining 22 days on duty 24/7 at the station. Meanwhile, salaries and benefits are low. Mr. Binh, the station head, has worked in the industry for 22 years but earns only a little over 8 million VND, while forest rangers with university degrees who have just started working earn only a little over 4 million VND.

However, the most dangerous challenge lies in confronting the reckless and aggressive behavior of poaching groups. Cat Tien National Park is home to many animal species, including many rare and economically valuable ones. In particular, some species are easily accessible, such as deer, civets, porcupines, and wild boars, and their habitats are quite close to residential areas. Therefore, poaching in Cat Tien National Park remains a frequent occurrence. "Recently, poaching groups have become very aggressive. Therefore, the National Park Management Board is always prepared to respond and bring peace to the wildlife," shared Mr. Nguyen Van Binh.

The story of confronting poaching groups in Cat Tien National Park in early March 2023 is still fresh in my mind as I met the heroes of the incident. Around 3:00 AM on March 2nd, 2023, a patrol team from the mobile forest ranger station, in coordination with the Nui Tuong and Ta Lai forest ranger stations, was on patrol. Upon discovering a group of six poachers, the rangers pursued them but were met with resistance from knives and pepper spray. "One ranger was injured from ear to chin, another in the cheek, and another in the hand and chest area... Despite this, we were determined to apprehend them and seized evidence including three sacks and one backpack containing one wild boar, one deer, seven muntjacs, one civet, one homemade gun, three knives, and six lamps," recounted ranger Chieu Van Hai.

(to be continued)

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