TRAFFIC CAGED IN THE CITY:R E P O R T

An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi
Minh City, Viet Nam

SEPTEMBER 2017

James A. Eaton, Minh D. T. Nguyen, Madelon Willemsen, Jessica Lee
and Serene C. L. Chng

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

1

TRAFFIC REPORTTRAFFIC, the wild­life trade monitoringnet­work, is the leading non-governmentalorganization working globally on trade inwild animals and plants in the context of bothbiodiversity conservation and sustainable
development. TRAFFIC is a strategic alliance ofWWF and IUCN.
Reprod­uction of material appearing in thisreport requires written­permission fromthe publisher.
The designations of geographical entities inthis publication, and the presentation of thematerial, do not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or
its supporting ­organizations con­cern­ing the legal
status of any country, territory, or area, or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its
frontiers or boundaries.
The views of the authors expressed in thispublication are those of the writers and do notnecessarily reflect those of TRAFFIC,
WWF or IUCN.
Published by TRAFFIC.
Southeast Asia Regional Office
Suite 12A-01, Level 12A, Tower 1,
Wisma AmFirst,
Jalan Stadium SS 7/15,
47301 Kelana Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Telephone : (603) 7880 3940
Fax : (603) 7882 0171
Copyright of material published in this report isvested in TRAFFIC.
© TRAFFIC 2017.
ISBN no: 928-983-3393-74-9
UK Registered Charity No. 1076722.
Suggested citation: Eaton, J.A., Nguyen, M.D.T.,
Willemsen, M., Lee, J., and Chng, S.C.L. (2017).
Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for salein Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office,Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Front cover photograph: Birds being peddledfrom the back of a mobile seller’s motorcycle,
Ha Noi
Credit: ©Alisa Blee/TRAFFICCAGED IN THE CITY:

An inventory of birds for sale in
Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam© Alisa Blee/TRAFFICJames A.Eaton, Minh D.T. Nguyen, Madelon
Willemsen, Jessica Lee and Serene C.L. Chng

Birds being peddled from the back of a mobile seller’s motorcycle, Ha Noi.

© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Bar-bellied Pitta Hydrornis elliotii

iii

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abbreviations and Acronyms

iv

Acknowledgementsiv

Executive Summaryv

Introduction

1

Current Regulatory Framework

2

Methods

5

Results and Observations

6

Discussion

16

Species of Concern

19Conclusions and Recommendations

29

References

31

Appendix

33

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

iv

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
Captive breeding

Offspring are produced in a controlled environment, where the parents weremated in a controlled, captive environment and breeding stock establishedin accordance with the provisions of CITES and relevant national laws, ina manner not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild, and aremaintained without the introduction of specimens from the wild.

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora

EN

Endangered

FPD

Forest Protection Department

HCMC

Ho Chi Minh City

MARD

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

NT

Near Threatened

Ranching

Rearing in a controlled, captive environment of species taken as eggs orjuveniles from the wild, where they would otherwise have had a very low
probability of surviving to adulthood

USD

US Dollar

VND

Vietnamese Dong

VU

Vulnerable

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chris R. Shepherd, Kanitha Krishnasamy, Douglas Hendrie, Jonathan Eames, Simon Mahood,
Richard Thomas and Thomasina Oldfield are thanked for reviewing early drafts of this report.
Elizabeth John and Aqeela Abdul Jalil are thanked for the communication and design layout.
Our gratitude goes to Wildlife Reserves Singapore for generously funding this work.

iv

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWith 48 threatened bird species, and the highest number of breeding endemic bird species (11)in mainland Southeast Asia, Viet Nam is a global conservation priority. Many of these threatened
species are hunted unsustainably for wildlife trade. Studies carried out since the early 1990s
highlight that lax law enforcement and outdated legislation enables protected species to be openly
traded along streets, while other species are also traded in large numbers. Very little is known
about the current true scale of the trade in Viet Nam as the most recent research was conducted in2008. To fill this knowledge gap, and to support bird conservation efforts in the region, TRAFFIC
undertook a full inventory of the bird markets across the country’s two main
cities—Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
This report presents the results from a combined inventory and illustrates the large scale of the bird
trade in the two largest cities in Viet Nam. A total of 8047 birds of 115 species were observed during
a three-day survey period in April 2016. The huge number traded further spotlights the exploitationof wild birds across Southeast Asia, also captured in a number of TRAFFIC’s “snapshot” market
inventories since 2014—over 45 000 birds recorded for sale in bird markets in five cities in Java,
Indonesia, over 14 000 birds in Singapore’s pet shops and over 1000 birds in Bangkok’s ChatuchakMarket in Thailand.
Like the Indonesian bird markets, native bird species dominated the trade, exceeding 99% of all
birds recorded. Similarly, over 90% of species in trade were native. Scaly-breasted Munias Lonchurapunctulata (21%) and Red-whiskered Bulbuls Pycnonotus jocosus (15%) were the most abundant,collectively reaching close to 3000 individuals.
Of the native birds recorded, only 10% receive specific protection under national legislation. This
included all four native parakeet species observed in trade (comprising 6% of recorded birds),
which are protected from commercial exploitation under Decree 32/2006/ND-CP on Managementof endangered, precious, and rare species of wild plants and animals, but are still trapped in large
numbers and are facing population declines due to trapping.
The remaining 90% of native birds (85% of native species) recorded in trade are not protected by
Vietnamese legislation. Some of the native species are thought to be at extreme risk from high levelsof legal trade and should be considered for protection in Viet Nam. Of the top 10 most abundantspecies recorded in trade, equating to 74% of all individuals traded, nine are not subjected to any
regulation by Vietnamese law, meaning trade is going unchecked. Seven species recorded in the twocities have been identified as threatened directly by trade in the Conservation Strategy for Southeast
Asian Songbirds in Trade. This Strategy, although currently focused on 28 songbird species in the
Greater Sunda region for conservation action, is relevant to findings in Viet Nam. This highlightsthat similar species, including native subspecies, are popularly traded across the region. There isa possibility of cross-border trade to feed the demand and this therefore becomes an importantconsideration for any regional conservation action.
Three globally threatened species on the IUCN Red List were recorded in trade: from SouthAmerica, the Endangered Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis (1 individual) and two Indonesian
endemics Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora (24 individuals) and Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus(2 individuals) that are considered Vulnerable. A further six species are considered as Near
Threatened.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Namv

This study also showed a rise in the number of species and volume of birds for sale since past studies
in 1991, 1998, 2001 and 2008. There also appeared to be an increase in the popularity of songbirds
that is perhaps driven by songbird competitions, a practice that is popular throughout the region.
Similar to findings from other market surveys in Southeast Asia, the majority of native birds
observed were suspected to have been taken from the wild directly for sale. This was based on thecondition and behaviour of the birds. For certain species, large numbers of immature individuals
were observed, suggesting that captive breeding or more likely ranching (where eggs or chicks werecollected from easily-accessible nests in the wild and then raised in captivity before being sold) werepotentially taking place. These, along with the high volume of birds in trade in just two cities, points
to the need to better monitor this such activities, and importantly, to enable the implementation of aregulatory system to ensure that trade does not threatened the survival of species in the wild.
The new Law No. 12/2017/QH14 Amending and Supplementing a number of articles in the Penal
Code No. 100/2015/QH13 comes into force from 1/1/2018. This will further extend protection
under criminal law to CITES-listed species as well as those currrently listed on Decree 32, butbetter implementation of law enforcement against illegal wildlife trade will be required to render
this effective. Currently, this is hampered by a lack of species identification skills amongst law
enforcement officers. This is also compounded by the emerging challenge of online trade, which
presents far more complications and regulation challenges than trade carried out openly in shops.
Based on the findings of this assessment and in line with the Conservation Strategy for Southeast
Asian Songbirds in Trade, TRAFFIC makes the following recommendations:
Legislation and Enforcement• The Viet Nam Government is urged to strengthen existing legislation to include the means tomonitor and regulate the harvest and trade of all wild-caught species to ensure that it does notthreaten the survival of species. Currently only bird species listed in Decree 32’s Group IB andIIB receive protection from overharvest and commercial trade — this currently covers a mere
10% of native birds recorded in this survey.
•

Following from the above, the Viet Nam Government is urged to update and reassess theprotected species list (and introduce regulatory mechanisms) under the Penal Code No.
100/2015/QH13 and Law No. 12/2017/QH14 in conjunction with NGOs and other experts
in the field to include species threatened by trade in Viet Nam according to the IUCN Red
List, such as all native parakeet species, Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus, Red-billed
Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea, White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus, Red-whiskered
Bulbul, range-restricted endemic species and species assessed as threatened by the IUCN Red
List. This exercise should consider threats to birds in the country and be used and updated
accordingly to contribute to the CITES Appendices and IUCN Red Listing processes. As laws
are strengthened and regulatory mechanisms are introduced, the Viet Nam Government isurged to carry out effective monitoring and enforcement actions at locations that sell birds;
where a violation takes place, action should be taken to ensure penalties meted out can act as adeterrent.

•

The relevant departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, including
the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry and the Forest Protection Department, and otherstakeholders such as the local provincial People’s Committees, are recommended to amend
the current regulatory framework for the permitting and certification for the exploitation andfarming of common wild animals—Circular 47­— to cover all wild bird species and include aclear monitoring mechanism for properly permitted captive breeding facilities.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam•

Capacity building for law enforcement agencies is recommended as they report a lackof identification skills to distinguish between common and threatened bird taxa. Law
enforcement agencies include but are not limited to the Forest Protection Department (under
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Customs (Ministry of Finance) and
Environmental Police (Ministry of Public Security). The means to identify species commonly
seen in trade, and relevant training and support can be provided by local wildlife experts andconservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including TRAFFIC.

Monitoring• While full inventories are important to gain a picture of the species and volumes of birds
involved in trade, they are challenging to carry out regularly. Instead, regular monitoringof priority and indicator species over a period of time should be conducted. This is not only
a cost-effective way to monitor the conservation status of key species of concern but also
important in uncovering market dynamics, prioritizing management or regulation actions
and forming the evidence base for making informed decisions concerning trade levels. It istherefore recommended that monitoring of wildlife markets and vendors is continued byNGOs and researchers. This information should be used to support law enforcement efforts
and feed accordingly into the Conservation Strategy for Southeast Asian Songbirds in Trade.
•Price data and source of birds (wild-caught or captive-bred) should also be noted where
possible, to better understand trade trends and dynamics in order to inform conservation
actions. Where relevant and possible (especially where subspecies are known to be rangerestricted and/or vulnerable to offtake), individual birds observed should be recorded tosubspecies level to account for conservation units, taxonomic updates and to determine sourceareas. For instance, white-eyes Zosterops sp. which are traded in large numbers across theregion are likely to face taxonomic rearrangements; monitoring at the subspecies level will help
inform the assessments of threats faced by each conservation unit.

•

Customs, quarantine and port officials are recommended to increase vigilance in monitoringand detecting cross-border trade at checkpoints and around border areas, both for importationand exportation to help provide information about the levels of such trade.

Reducing consumer demand• Commissioning consumer market research is recommended to gain an understanding of
the motivations and practices of those purchasing birds at these markets. This can help withthe development of information for awareness raising and developing targeted messaging
aimed at changing the behaviour of those consumers purchasing birds from illegal and / orunsustainable sources.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

vii

INTRODUCTION
Viet Nam’s role in illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade has been well-documented (e.g. Drury,
2011; Ngoc and Wyatt, 2013; Shairp et al., 2016). Studies on the country’s bird trade include surveys
carried out over the past few decades documenting the steady rise in the live bird trade, particularlyin the major cities. In 1991, Eames surveyed the birds of Cau Mong market in Ho Chi Minh City
(HCMC) (Eames, 1991) and, from 1991–1997, Craik recorded observations from bird markets Le
Hong Phong and Thuan Kieu in HCMC, as well as standalone shops and mobile vendors, after Cau
Mong market closed in 1996 (Craik, 1998). Between December 1992 and May 1993 a region-wide
study of bird species not included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was carried out in Ha Noi, HCMC, Hai Phong and Nha Trang(Nash, 1993). The birds were mostly sold for merit release or consumption of their meat (Eames,
1991; Nash, 1993; Craik, 1998) although surveys in the early 2000s in Hanoi by Morris (2001)
found a burgeoning trade of cage birds as pets. More recently, surveys in 2007 (Brooks-Moizer etal., 2008) and 2008–2009 (Edmunds et al., 2011) focused on aspects of the trade contributing tozoonotic disease transmission and documented the continued open trade in cage birds despite a2005 ban on the sale of wild and ornamental birds in urban areas to curb the transmission of avian
influenza (Circular 69/2005/TT-BNN, now replaced by Circular 07/2016). Le and Craik (2016) also
documented trade and hunting of threatened and endemic avian species in northern Viet Nam and
Da Lat (in the southern Central Highlands).
This study follows on from Asia’s first Songbird Trade Crisis Summit, organized by Wildlife Reserves
Singapore, TRAFFIC, and Cikananga Wildlife Center, and held in Singapore on 26 – 29 September
2015, that developed the Conservation Strategy for Southeast Asian Songbirds in Trade (Lee etal., 2016), which includes calls for research into the bird trade across the region. Experts fromacademia, conservation NGOs and zoological institutions identified a list of 28 songbird species
most at risk from trade in the Greater Sunda region as being of highest conservation priority,
and also determined the top 12 species in need of immediate action, seven of which were foundon this survey. As a result of this and similar findings, the formation of the Asian songbird trade
specialist group, a IUCN Species Survival Commission Group (SSC) was agreed and ratified, which
encompasses the whole of Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam.
Findings of this study will support conservation actions and objectives developed during theSummit for the whole Southeast Asia region and used by the Asian songbird trade specialist group.
Obtaining current baseline data throughout Southeast Asia will enable a meaningful evaluation ofconservation efforts and impacts, emerging trends and species of conservation concern, and guide
future conservation and research efforts.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

CURRENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Viet Nam has been a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ofWild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1994. As a signatory, Viet Nam is responsible and accountable
for the implementation of the Convention.
CITES provides the means to regulate trade and combat the illegal trade of wildlife acrossinternational borders. Species listed in Appendix I of the Convention are prohibited frominternational commercial trade. Those in Appendix II require an export permit issued by the
CITES Management Authority of the State of export (in Viet Nam’s case the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development (MARD)). These can only be issued if the specimen(s) was/were legallyobtained and if export will not be detrimental to the survival of species. No import permit for an
Appendix II listed species is required unless it is required by national law by the importing State.
Viet Nam is ranked as having Category 1 CITES-implementing legislation under Resolution Conf.
8.4 (Rev. CoP15) on National laws for implementation of the Convention (CITES SC66 Inf. 19,
2016) which demonstrates that its legislation generally meet the requirements to implement CITES.
Viet Nam has the largest number of laws and regulations governing the protection of wildlife
and the environment in Southeast Asia (UNODC and Freeland, 2015). A total of 18 laws are inplace and enforced by different government departments. The following laws and regulations are
specifically relevant to the trading of birds in Viet Nam:
Law/ Decree Number and Title Date
Penal Code Amendment No.
2009
37/2009/QH12(Penal Code No. 15/1999/QH10)

Penal Code No. 100/2015/
QH13 along with Law No.
12/2017/QH14 Amending and
Supplementing a number ofarticles in the Penal Code No.
100/2015/QH13

2017

Relevance to bird species
According to Article 190 of this law, the acts ofhunting, killing, transporting, raising, keeping andtrading of endangered, precious and rare wild animals
prioritized for protection and the acts of trading
and transporting of their body parts or products areprohibited. Wild animals prioritized for protection
are species listed in Decree 32’s Group IB and IIB.
CITES Appendix I species that are not listed in Decree
32’s Group IB are treated the same as Decree 32’s
Group IB species. The offenders shall be liable to afine of up to VND500 million (USD22 124), subject tonon-custodial reform of up to three years or a prison
term of up to seven years.
Coming into force on 1/1/2018, this law increases
the fine for criminal offences up to VND2 billion(USD88 496) and the prison term up to 15 years.
Criminal offences include the acts of hunting, killing,transporting, raising, keeping, and trading above acertain quantity of animals or their parts. Notably, thisnew Code is expected to add the act of possession to
the list of criminal acts.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

2Decree 160/2013/ND-CP
2013
Criteria for identification andmanagement of endangered, rare
and precious species, prioritizedfor protection

2006
Decree 32/2006/ND-CP on
Management of endangered,precious, and rare species of wild
plants and animals

Decree 82/2006/ND-CP on
2006
Management of export, import,
re-export and introduction
from the sea, transit, breeding,rearing and artificial propagationof endangered, precious, andrare species of wild plants andanimals
Circular 47/2012/TT-BNNPTNT 2012
Regulating the Management ofwild exploitation and farming ofcommon wild animals
Decree 157/2013/ND-CP
Administrative penalties withregards to forest management,
forest development, forest
protection and forest productmanagement
Amendment Decree 40(Decree 157/2013/ND-CP
Administrative penalties withregards to forest management,
forest development, forest
protection and forest productmanagement)

3

2013

As well as setting out the criteria to identify andmanage endangered, rare and precious species
prioritized for protection, this Decree also sets out
principles to manage the exploitation, exchange,
trading, gifting, hiring, storing, transporting ofspecimens, breeding and rescuing of the species. Wild
animals and plants, including bird species, in bothGroups I and II of Decree 32 (see below) are regulatedby this Decree.
This Decree establishes two groups of species withGroup I receiving full protection from harvest
and trade and Group II species prohibited fromcommercial exploitation except for captive-bred
specimens, and specimens confiscated from illegal
wildlife trade that cannot be rescued and released to
the wild. This requires formal permits, and follow-up
monitoring and reporting. Species in both groups
may be exploited for research or international relation
purposes. Sub-group A is for plants, and sub-group
B is for animals. This is only valid for species that are
not listed in Decree 160.
This Decree covers management of export, import,
re-export and introduction from the sea, transit,
breeding, rearing and artificial propagation of CITESlisted species as well as species protected under
Vietnamese laws. However, this Decree does notprotect native species or specimens of unclear origin/acquisition.
This Circular covers the management of wild
exploitation and farming for commercial purposes of
160 species of common wild animals. The breeding
facilities require permits to operate, and individual
permits for each species are additionally required.
This Decree covers penalties for administrative
violations with regards to forest management, forest
development, forest protection and management offorest products, including wildlife. The offenders
shall be fined up to VND500 million (USD22 124)
for individuals and VND1 billion (USD44 248) for
organizations.
This Decree amends some articles of Decree 157/2013/
ND-CP, however, the penalties remain the samefor administrative violations with regards to forest
management, forest development, forest protection
and management of forest products, including wildlife.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Decree 179/2013/ND-CP
Administrative penalties
with regards to environment
protection

2013

Circular No. 07/2016/TTBNNPTNT Prevention andresponse to zoonotic diseases interrestrial animals

2016This Decree covers penalties for illegally keeping
parts and derivatives of endangered, precious and rarewild animals, prioritized for protection. Individual
offenders shall be fined up to VND500 million(USD22 124) while organizations as offenders shall be
fined up to VND1 billion (USD44 248).
This Circular stipulates details of articles in the
Veterinary Law on the prevention and control of
diseases of terrestrial animals. Avian influenza is
included in the list of zoonotic diseases in terrestrial
animals for which outbreaks must be announced, thelist of diseases that can be transmitted from animals tohumans, and the list of diseases in animals for whichslaughtering and curative care are prohibited.

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METHODS© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

On 15–17 April 2016, researchers carried out surveys of all known bird vendors in Ha Noi and
HCMC, the two largest cities in Viet Nam. In each of these cities, the trade of birds takes placelargely from shops or vendors in specific areas—in both Ha Noi and HCMC, one main street
accounted for most of the vendors (Hoang Hoa Tham in Ha Noi, and Truong Chinh in HCMC),
plus there were a few other locations across the city. Additionally, Son Tay, a city on the outskirts of
Ha Noi, had several shops. Data from Son Tay are combined with data from Ha Noi in this report.
A number of mobile sellers on motorcycles also peddle birds; they were found to congregate aroundthe main streets where birds were sold, which were also included in the survey.

Mobile sellers on motorcycles peddling birds

The vendors are open to the public seven days a week with the birds openly displayed for sale.
Direct observations were used and observers only counted birds on open display. Most vendor
sellers in Ha Noi were happy for researchers to photograph their birds, but few in HCMC were.
Researchers posed as tourists to take pictures rather than posing as potential buyers and no wildlife
was purchased, nor was price information gathered.
At each vendor a full inventory was carried out, with individuals of every species counted andwhere possible recorded to subspecific level. Though subspecies were noted wherever possible,
several species could not be recorded to subspecific level due to difficulty in obtaining clear views
or identification of subtle plumage differences. Domesticated animals, defined as those that show asignificant proportion of mutations, either with colour pigmentations differing from wild specimens
or hybridization with other species, were not included in the inventory. Examples were canaries
Serinus spp and Crithagra spp, Budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus, lovebirds Agapornis spp and, insome cases, Java Sparrows Lonchura oryzivora displaying non-wild type phenotypes.
Additionally, data from the UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database, a study on wildlife e-commercein Viet Nam, and other relevant literature were used. Taxonomy and vernacular names follow Gill
and Donsker (2016). For the analyses, birds were defined to species level, with individuals that
could not be identified to a species level omitted.
5

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONSSpecies and origin
A total of 8047 birds of 115 species were counted during the survey. More individuals of a greaternumber of species were recorded in HCMC than Ha Noi (Table 1), and only 14 species were uniqueto Ha Noi while 70 species were unique to HCMC. Overall, the Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchurapunctulata was the most numerous species, with 1711 individuals recorded (Table 2). A total of
488 individuals of nine species in the surveys are listed on the IUCN Red List as threatened or Near
Threatened (Table 3).

© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Table 1: Summary of survey results of the two cities surveyed in Viet Nam in April 2016.
Number of
Number of
Number of shops Average number of
species
individuals
individuals per shop
Ha Noi
45
3378
31
109
HCMC
101
4669
21
222

Silver-eared Mesias for sale in Ha Noi.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

6© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Table 2: Top 10 most numerous species observed during the survey, their conservation status,
national protection and range in Viet Nam. The full list is in Appendix 1.
SpeciesNumber of
Number of IUCN status National protection
shops present in birds
Scaly-breasted Munia
15
1711
LC
None
Red-whiskered Bulbul
45
1241
LC
None
Japanese White-eye
25
775
LC
None
Red-breasted Parakeet
25
415
NT
Decree 32
Chinese Hwamei
33
409
LC
None
Pied Bush Chat
14
386
LC
None
Spotted Dove
33
360
LC
None
White-rumped Shama
25
229
LC
None
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
5
221
LC
None
Oriental Magpie-Robin
30
209
LC
None

Juvenile Red-breasted Parakeets for sale in Ha Noi. This species is assessed as Near Threatened and protected under
Viet Nam’s Decree 32 Group IIB.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Table 3: IUCN Red List status of all threatened and Near Threatened species recorded during
the surveys (BirdLife International, 2016)
SpeciesNumber of individuals
observed
Ha Noi
3378
Vulnerable
2
Java Sparrow
Lonchura oryzivora
2
Near Threatened
139
Alexandrine Parakeet
Psittacula eupatria
5
Blossom-headed Parakeet
Psittacula roseata
1
Red-breasted Parakeet
Psittacula alexandri133
Least Concern
3237
HCMC
4669
Endangered
1
Sun Parakeet
Aratinga solstitialis
1
Vulnerable
24
Chattering Lory
Lorius garrulus
2
flavopalliatus
Java Sparrow
Lonchura oryzivora
22
Near Threatened
322
Alexandrine Parakeet
Psittacula eupatria
11
Blossom-headed Parakeet
Gouldian Finch
Grey-headed Parakeet
Princess Parrot
Red-breasted Parakeet
Least Concern

Psittacula roseata
Erythrura gouldiae
Psittacula finschii
Polytelis alexandrae
Psittacula alexandri

19
1
7
2
282
4322

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8

Native species in trade
Over 99% (7982 / 8047) individual birds recorded were native to Viet Nam. Very few of the native
species recorded were protected; none of the species observed were listed on Decree 160, only one
species is listed in Group IB under Decree 32, nine species on Group IIB and five species protectedunder Circular 47 (Table 4). This means that about 90% of birds found in this survey fall outside ofany legal protection in Viet Nam and therefore are legally traded; 10% were possibly illegally traded
if they were wild-caught specimens.
Table 4: Native species recorded that are protected under Vietnamese legislation
SpeciesNumber of individuals
Ha NoiDecree 32 Group IIB
Alexandrine Parakeet
Blossom-headed Parakeet
Common Hill Myna
Red-breasted Parakeet
White-cheeked Laughingthrush
White-rumped Shama
HCMC
Decree 32 Group IB
Silver Pheasant
Decree 32 Group IIB
Alexandrine Parakeet
Blossom-headed Parakeet
Common Hill Myna
Crested Serpent Eagle
Grey-headed Parakeet
Red-breasted Parakeet
Vernal Hanging Parrot
White-cheeked Laughingthrush
White-rumped Shama
Circular 47
Chinese Francolin
Greater Coucal
Red Junglefowl
Watercock
White-breasted Waterhen

Psittacula eupatria
Psittacula roseata
Gracula religiosa
Psittacula alexandri
Garrulax vassali
Copsychus malabaricus

Lophura nycthemera
annamensis
Psittacula eupatria
Psittacula roseata
Gracula religiosa
Spilornis cheela
Psittacula finschii
Psittacula alexandri
Loriculus vernalis
Garrulax vassali
Copsychus malabaricus

250
5
1
5
133
2
104
3
3
494
11

Francolinus pintadeanus
Centropus sinensis

19
29
3
7
282
8
10
125
24
3
5

Gallus gallus
Gallicrex cinerea
Amaurornis phoenicurus

1
1
14

Of the 7982 individual birds of native species recorded, 6933 (87% of the native birds) of 61 species
were considered to be from marginal (grassland, forest edge, urban and peri-urban) habitats, while1049 (13% of the native birds) of 42 species were considered to be from forest habitat. Species
restricted to forest habitats are generally more sensitive to disturbance from human activities
and less accessible than those in marginal habitats—thus their appearance in trade is a particularconcern.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

The high numbers of species recorded for sale in HCMC that are restricted to the northern partof the country indicates the movement of birds across Viet Nam. For example, large numbers ofChinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus (49.6% of total number of Chinese Hwamei recorded during thesurvey, n=409) and Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus (33%, n=775), both species whose range
in Viet Nam is restricted to the north of the country, were noted in HCMC vendors.

©Jessica Lee/Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Non-native species in trade
Only 65 individual birds from 12 species were non-native (Table 5), and vast majority of these wereAustralasian species. Only two non-native species (a total of 18 individuals) were noted in Ha Noi,suggesting the trade here is almost entirely of domestic origin, whereas in HCMC 12 non-native
species (47 individuals) were noted.

A pair of Eclectus Parrots for sale in Ha Noi. This Indonesian endemic subspecies is listed in CITES Appendix II.

Of the CITES Appendix II listed non-native birds recorded, according to the CITES Trade
Database, from 1994 to 2015 exporters reported trade to Viet Nam of only four of the eight CITESlisted species (Table 5). This means that since Viet Nam became a signatory to CITES in 1994,
there has been no legal trade of Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus flavopalliatus, Java Sparrow
Lonchura oryzivora, Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus and Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis
into the country. Individuals of these species observed for sale must therefore have either beenobtained prior to 1994 (which is unlikely, especially for smaller passerines such as Java Sparrow),
captive-bred in Viet Nam from imports prior to 1994 or smuggled into the country.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

10Table 5: Non-native species observed in the study, as well as number of exporter-reported
imports into Viet Nam of CITES-listed species according to the CITES Trade Database.
Location/CITES listing/Species
Number ofExporter-reported
individuals observed CITES trade to Vietin survey
Nam 1994-2015
Ha Noi18
Not CITES-listed
Zebra Finch
Appendix II
Java Sparrow
HCMC
Not CITES-listed
Diamond Dove
Gouldian Finch
Superb Parrot
Zebra Finch
Appendix II
Chattering Lory

16
16

NA

Lonchura oryzivora220

Geopelia cuneata
Erythrura gouldiae

47
12
2
1

NA
NA

2
7

NA
NA

35
2

0

Taeniopygia guttata
castanotis

Polytelis swainsonii
Taeniopygia guttata
castanotis

Lorius garrulus
flavopalliatus
Crimson Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Eastern Rosella
Platycercus eximius
Eclectus Parrot
Eclectus roratus roratus
Java Sparrow
Lonchura oryzivora
Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus
Princess Parrot
Polytelis alexandrae
Sun Parakeet
Aratinga solstitialis
Total

2
2
2
22
2
2
1
65

40 (all C)
117 (all C)
7 (all C)
00
21 (all C)0

Non-natives species were almost wholly restricted to shops in HCMC, with 12 species encounteredin HCMC, totalling 47 individuals, compared to just two species (Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
castanotis and Java Sparrow) totalling 18 individuals in Ha Noi.
The researchers also noted at least 129 lovebirds that all appeared to be Fischer’s Lovebird, acommon avicultural species and all were assumed to be captive-bred. As some wild-sourced
lovebird species of conservation concern have been noted to be present in the cage bird trade
globally (Martin, R. pers. comm., September 2016), future market surveyors should take careful
note of which species of lovebirds are encountered in trade.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Source
The vast majority of native birds observed are suspected to have been obtained from the wild,
although cases of possible captive breeding or ranching were observed. Although this study purely
focused on physical vendors, a rapid assessment of e-commerce wildlife trade in Viet Nam foundevidence of birds being taken from the wild (Nguyen and Willemsen, 2016); of 137 advertisements
for live birds, seven stated explicitly that the birds were of wild origin; others did not state thesource. Le and Craik (2016) also report trapping of birds for trade, reinforcing our deduction thatmost birds would have been wild-sourced.
Only species listed on IB, IIB and Circular 47 (2012) require permitting/certification for farming;
species not listed on IB, IIB and Circular 47 (2012), can be farmed legally even without permits.
The source of the non-native and native species of parrots observed was unknown. Given the highnumber still in juvenile plumage and of similar age, it is possible that many were either ranched or
captive-bred— making their trade legal only if they were farmed with the necessary permits.

© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Surprisingly, as very few other juvenile passerines were observed in this survey, 94% of the Pied
Bush Chats Saxicola caprata observed (363 out of 386 individuals) were still in juvenile plumage;this suggests that the species are specifically targeted for the songbird trade and were suspected to beranched as many of them appeared to be of similar age and could be easily obtained from wild nests(see Discussion - Ranching). A small number of Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula fledglings werealso observed, suggesting they could be sourced from ranched birds.

Juvenile Pied Bushchats

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12©Jessica Lee/Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Other observations
During the survey, the researchers were often the only visitors at a vendor, perhaps because surveys
were carried out on weekdays. The demographic of buyers observed included young boys (mostly
purchasing low value birds like white-eyes Zosterops sp.) and older men, with few women noted.

Live birds are known as the “cut flowers of the pet trade” for good reason – high mortality rates are observed inmarkets and even before the animals reach the point of sale.

One shop in HCMC held the widest variety of Australasian species, with eight species that are foundonly in eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia, seven of which were parrot species and notencountered at any other vendors.
In Ha Noi, the vendors were generally very open with the researchers, allowing them to photographtheir shops and birds for sale, and on two occasions even moved cages for the researchers to getbetter photos. In contrast, in HCMC the researchers were unable to take any photographs as thevendors asked them not to.
Mobile vendors are a prominent feature on the streets around the concentration of bird shops
in both Ha Noi and HCMC, with eight noted, transporting up to 106 individual birds at a time.
Typically this would be made up of a motorbike with cages of birds stacked up on the back andsides. The authors have not encountered this on surveys elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

©Jessica Lee/Wildlife Reserves Singapore

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

14© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Some species of birds, such as Red-billed Starling (page before) and White-crested Laughingthrush had been dyed,
presumably to make them more attractive to buyers.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

DISCUSSION
Then and now
As noted in the Introduction, a number of studies on the bird trade in Viet Nam, particularly in
Ha Noi and HCMC, have been previously carried out. As different survey protocols were usedin this and previous surveys, results are not strictly comparable but indicative of changes or lackthereof in broad trends.

© James Eaton/TRAFFICThe species composition of birds recorded in HCMC in this study are rather different to thoserecorded by Eames (1991) and Craik (1998). Eames’s 1991 surveys were carried out in Cau Mong
market in HCMC, finding 9896 birds of 43 species sold in 15 stalls over three visits, which worked
out to a mean of 3298 birds per visit and 219 birds per stall. Craik’s 1991-1997 observations in
HCMC recorded more species for sale (69 species), but not as many as in our study, where a far
greater variety of species (101) were observed, as well as a higher number of birds (4669 individuals).
This is despite the closure of Cau Mong market, which appears to have been replaced by individual
shops and mobile vendors centred around a few main streets (see Methods).
In Ha Noi, Edmunds et al. (2011)
recorded a maximum count of 38
shops, recording a maximum of 9117
individuals of 43 species in January
2009 (including canaries, cockatiels,
lovebirds and budgerigars), which
was much higher than the 2007 and2000/2001 surveys (Morris, 2001;
Brooks-Moizer et al., 2008). Although
the number of vendors and species
do not differ much the volumes
recorded by Edmunds et al. (2011)
are also much higher than this study(3378 individuals). They also notedthat there were many more vendors,
individuals for sale and higher species
diversity in Ha Noi compared to
HCMC, which is the reverse to thefindings from this study. Regardless,both cities are important economic
centres for domestic and international
trade, with large concentrated humanpopulations as a consumer base, and it
is expected that levels of wildlife trade
would be highest here compared to therest of the country.
The most frequently recorded species
in the current study was the Scalybreasted Munia, as it was in 1991.
However, the volume recorded in thisstudy is significantly lower (1711 compared to 5800 in 1991). This could be indicative of a decline in
the species since the 1990s. The Red-breasted Parakeet also features in “top five” lists since the 1990s
studies, possibly indicating steady popularity and supply. The proportion of “marginal habitat”
species recorded in this study (53%) is comparable to the 59% recorded by Eames (1991).
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All species recorded in the earlier HCMC studies were native, except for a single Chattering Lory.
Eames (1991) postulated that the number of non-native species for sale in HCMC would increase
due to growing international trade between Viet Nam and neighbouring countries. Craik’s list
(Craik, 1998) did not include any non-native species, but Morris (2001) noted the appearance of 11
non-native species for sale, including the avicultural canaries and lovebirds, which are not counted
in this study. Indeed, in the current study 12 non-native species were recorded from HCMC, and we
may expect this trend of increasing non-native species to continue.
Eames (1991) and Craik (1998) were correct in predicting then that the cage bird trade would
increase in scale, based on the economic growth of the country. True to form, today cage birds arecommonly observed on most streets in cities and suburban areas. It is suggested that the popularityof songbirds as pets has increased in recent decades partly through their increased market
availability (Brooks-Moizer et al., 2008) and the rise of young people trapping, trading and keeping
birds (Le and Craik, 2016).

A shop specialising in songbirds used in singing competitions

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Another driver is likely to be songbird competitions, with at least one shop observed in this study
specialising in competition birds. A rapid internet search found many news articles, videos andannouncements about songbird competitions in Viet Nam; for instance, there were 732 topics
in the section “Competition Information” on the Viet Nam Red-Whiskered Bulbul Forum (as of
20 September 2016, http://www.chaomao.org/forum.php). Birds involved in these competitions
include Chinese Hwamei, Red-Whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus and White-rumped Shama
Copsychus malabaricus among others. This mirrors the rise in demand for such species used insongbird competition in Thailand (Chng and Eaton, 2016a) and Indonesia (Chng et al., 2015; Chngand Eaton, 2016b).

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SPECIES OF CONCERN© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Species of conservation concern are considered to be “indicator species”, as defined from previous
work on the bird trade by TRAFFIC (i.e. those species which are globally threatened and rangerestricted and can provide information on abundances and price changes over time to reflect
enforcement effort, sources and other conservation threats (such as Chattering Lory), or are being
observed in noteworthy volumes in trade (Chng et al., 2015)).

Raptors
While no raptors were recorded in Ha Noi, 26 individuals of seven species were recorded in
HCMC, most of which appeared to be fledglings of resident species, except an adult Pied Harrier
Circus melanoleucos, which is a wintering migrant to Viet Nam. Many of the birds were juveniles,
including fledglings from two weeks old. It is suspected that these were taken from nests in thewild for sale. Several individuals had tape wrapped around their tail, for reasons unknown to theauthors. All species encountered are considered Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and only the
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela is protected under Viet Nam national legislation.
The demand for keeping raptors has increased in Viet Nam, resulting in rising levels of trapping ofresident as well as migratory species (Le and Nguyen, 2015). It is likely that the trade of raptors in
Viet Nam is occurring online on a larger scale, but that was not investigated in this study. There isa large demand and trade of raptors in Southeast Asia with at least 30 species having been traded
every month in a single market in Jakarta, Indonesia (Wihardandi, 2012), 11 individuals of two
species were recorded during a single market survey in Bangkok, Thailand (Chng and Eaton,
2016a), while a survey of just five Facebook groups in Indonesia uncovered 4774 individuals of 22
species offered for sale (excluding the owl species included in the survey) (Iqbal, 2016).
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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Blossom-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets©Jessica Lee/Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Native parakeet species
Four parakeet species native to Viet Nam
were observed, totalling 458 individuals.
The majority, estimated at 80%, appeared tobe juveniles, some thought to be as young
as two weeks old. The most commonlyrecorded native parakeet was the Redbreasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri (thefourth most numerous bird recorded in thisstudy), which is also the most commonly
seen species in the wild in the region. Allfour species are considered Near Threatenedon the IUCN Red List, with populations inViet Nam undergoing decline as a result oftrapping and habitat loss. Already protectedunder Decree 32’s Group IIB, better
enforcement is therefore recommended
to safeguard remaining populations fromtrapping and trade. The source of the native
parakeets observed was unknown, but it
is possible that they may have been either
ranched given the large number of fledglings
for sale and ease of collection from wildnests (see Ranching).

Red-breasted and Alexandrine Parakeets

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21

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam© Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC

Chattering Lory
Currently classified on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, this species continues tobe targeted for trade. Two were recorded in one shop in HCMC of the subspecies
flavopalliatus, which is restricted to Bacan, Obi and Kasiruta in Indonesia. This lends
further weight to the suggested explanation in Chng and Eaton (2016b) of the preference
for flavopalliatus, despite it being the most logistically complex subspecies to transport due
to the islands in its native range being infrequently served by boact and no airports on Obi
or Kasiruta. This could indicate that the more easily accessible subspecies from elsewhere
in Indonesia are becoming scarcer, or there are better anti-poaching measures and law
enforcement on the more developed islands therefore driving trappers to collect birds from
Obi (Chng and Eaton, 2016b; Cottee-Jones et al., 2014). A single individual of this species
was the sole non-native bird recorded in Eames’s survey (Eames, 1991), indicating that tradein this species has existed since then.

© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Chinese Hwamei
Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and listed in CITES Appendix II. The fifth
most numerous bird in this study, a total of 409 individuals were counted. Though the species
is native to Viet Nam, it is now very scarce there. Anecdotal observations from field surveys
and regular birdwatching tours run in Viet Nam in the past 20 years have only recorded thespecies on three occasions in the wild (Craik, R. and Minh, L. Q. in litt., Mahood, S. in litt.,
Eaton, J. A. pers. obs.). The large numbers found perhaps suggest the majority are imported
from China or even Lao PDR. Furthermore, although HCMC is not within its native range,
200 (49%) were recorded from HCMC, indicating a transfer of birds of considerable distance.
This indicates a specific demand in HCMC for this species, rather than other locally available
laughingthrush species. The bird’s ability to mimic and produce an extravagant song makes it
a very popular cage bird outside Viet Nam too, with 21 found in a recent Singapore bird shop
survey (Eaton et al., 2016), and a total of 157 in two bird market surveys on Java, Indonesia(Chng et al., 2015, Chng and Eaton, 2016a). Given the large numbers encountered in trade,and the disappearance of the species in Viet Nam, legal protection for this species in Viet Nam
is recommended, along with follow-up monitoring of wild populations and domestic andinternational trade of this species.

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White-eyes Zosterops species
Three species of white-eyes were recorded during the survey; all are classified as Least
Concern on the IUCN Red List. The majority (87%; 775 individuals) comprising JapaneseWhite-eye, the most abundant native Zosterops in Viet Nam, followed by Oriental Whiteeye (98 individuals) and Chestnut-flanked White-eye (18 individuals). Unsurprisingly, andan indicator of them being locally caught as this species is absent from central and northViet Nam, all Oriental White-eyes recorded were in HCMC. On the other hand, 33% of theJapanese White-eyes, a species absent from south Viet Nam, were recorded in
HCMC—another example of the trade from north to south, indicating a domestic demand forthis species in its non-native range within the country despite the availability of the closelyrelated and native Oriental White-eye. Trapping has rendered the Japanese White-eye rare in
Ha Noi with flocks of this previously common bird no longer seen (Eames, J. C. in litt.).

© James
James Eaton/TRAFFIC
Eaton©

As has been noted in previous market surveys elsewhere in Southeast Asia, white-eyes aretraded in massive numbers, for example: Jakarta markets in 2014 (2392 individuals, Chng
et al., 2015), East Java in 2015 (3538 individuals, Chng and Eaton, 2016a), and Singapore
pet shops in 2015 (6473 individuals, Eaton et al., 2016). Due to potential taxonomic
rearrangements (Moyle et al., 2009), these species should be closely monitored, and where
possible, identified to subspecific levels.

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© James Eaton/TRAFFIC

White-rumped ShamaClassified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population trend. Anotherwidespread species, found from the Indian Subcontinent to the Greater Sundas, with several
Indonesian subspecies already in severe decline and possibly even extinct due to capture forthe bird trade (Eaton et al., 2015). A total of 229 were encountered during this survey (theeighth most numerous species). All birds observed appeared to be of the native subspecies
interpositus. Given the numbers encountered during this and other recent surveys, i.e. 141 in
Singapore (Eaton et al., 2017) and 485 in two bird market surveys on Java, Indonesia (Chnget al., 2015, Chng and Eaton, 2016a), a further trade-driven decline in White-rumped Shama
wild populations seems inevitable. A recent conservation genomic study found that Singapore’s
population comprises largely of interpositus birds from mainland Southeast Asia (Ng et al.,2017), and there is documentation of smuggling of the species into Singapore from Viet Nam(Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority Singapore, 2015), indicating trapping from Viet
Nam to supply international demand. Legal protection for this species in Viet Nam could beconsidered.

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

24©Thang Nguyen / FB/birds.guide.5

Vietnamese and Indochinese endemics
Four individuals of the range-restricted, regional endemic Indochinese Green Magpie Cissa
hypoleuca were observed in HCMC in this study. Although this was the only range-restrictedendemic observed, Le and Craik (2016) recorded nine threatened and Near Threatened species,
five of which were range-restricted Vietnamese and Indochinese endemics in casual observations
and cautioned that the number of endangered and endemic species traded across the country
would be higher and potentially a cause for concern. On recent visits to the Da Lat region by one of
the authors (JAE), Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Stactocichla annamensis, a range-restricted
Vietnamese endemic, were observed to be kept in cages; the poor condition of the birds andqueries to the bird owners indicated that they were trapped from the forest. He also observed
trappers targeting Orange-breasted Laughingthrush using decoy birds (pers. obs. February 2010).
This species was also recorded for sale in Da Lat by Le and Craik (2016). Although this species
is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (2016), these observations coupledwith anecdotal declines in wild sightings in recent years (JAE) indicate that the information it isbased on may be outdated (with the latest cited information dating 2007) and a re-assessment be
considered using new information. Protection for such species is therefore recommended due totheir vulnerability to overexploitation.
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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Prices
Although no prices were obtained during the physical surveys, prices were quoted in VND in 119
out of 137 advertisements found during the rapid e-commerce wildlife trade assessment carried out
by TRAFFIC in June 2016 (Nguyen and Willemsen, 2016). The total value for all live birds being
offered for sale recorded in that study was just under USD20 000 (VND22 301 = USD1 on xe.com
on 1 July 2016), with the highest price being asked USD1794 for an albino Oriental Magpie-robin
Copsychus saularis.
Trade routes and seizures
From 2010 to June 2016, there were at least 29 bird seizures in Viet Nam, 25 of which involved
domestic trade. The sizes of seizures varied, ranging from one Black Kite Milvus migrans(thanhniennews.com, 2016) to 450 kg Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax(approximately 500 birds) and 6.5 kg Collared Owlets Glaucidium brodiei (approximately 65 birds)(FPD, 2014), most likely traded for their meat. Based on a news report, the Forest Protection
Department (FPD) in the north central province of Thanh Hoa confiscated approximately 2000
birds from ten different enforcement events on National Highway 1, the trans-Viet Nam highway
running along the country, in just seven months during 2012 (Thanh Hoa FPD, 2012). Although
in previous studies stallholders said that most of the birds were obtained in the southern provinces,such seizures combined with the presence of species limited to the north observed for sale insouthern HCMC further indicates the cross-country movement of birds (Eames, 1991; Craik, 1998).

©James Eaton/TRAFFIC

Four out of the 29 reported bird seizures are cross-border trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia,
mainland China, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US with Viet Nam being both a source and destination
country. However, it is not clear if noteworthy volumes of birds trapped in Viet Nam are currently
being exported for sale in neighbouring countries, as many of the ranges of native species
overlap with these countries/territories. Nash (1993) and Edmunds et al. (2011) reported tradersin Singapore buying birds from Viet Nam, cross-border trade with mainland China as well as
numerous species sold in Viet Nam being sourced from other countries in the region, including
Malaysia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Indonesia. On the other hand, there appears not to be a strong
bird-keeping culture in Cambodia and Lao PDR, with little current interest in keeping singing
birds or in bird singing competitions (Eames, J. C. and Mahood, S. in litt.).

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Legislation and enforcement
More bird species should be protected, where trade has been shown to contribute to their decline.
Currently, only bird species in Group IB are fully protected under Decree 32 from any exploitation,
but the majority of bird species observed in trade, including species of concern such as raptors,
Chinese Hwamei, White-rumped Shama, range-restricted endemic species and species assessedas threatened by the IUCN Red List, do not fall under any protection. The Forest Protection
Department leader in Long An Province had noted that many bird species found in the market
were not yet protected and that the department “proposed to add these bird and stork species into
the list of protected wildlife” (Phap Luat Online, 2016).
The Penal Code No. 100/2015/QH13 along with Law No. 12/2017/QH14, both come into force on
1/1/2018, will extend protection under criminal law to also include species in Group II and in
the CITES Appendices I and II. Regardless, this updated regulatory framework will not provide
sufficient coverage for the current unsustainable trade of bird species, as the majority of the speciesof birds found in this survey do not fall under any protection of CITES and National Laws.
Even when the bird species fall under protection, the ineffective law enforcement and low fines do
not deter illegal activities. TRAFFIC’s data of bird seizures in Viet Nam demonstrates that from2010 to June 2016, 27 bird seizures and their perpetrators have come under the authority of theVietnamese Civic law. Of these, only seven cases resulted in administrative fines for the suspectwith the maximum fine of VND42 million (USD2100) (ENV, 2011). In a recent example, in March
2016 a seller of 100 protected birds was fined only VND3 million (USD 135) and his birds wereconfiscated (Zing News, 2016).
Another challenge causing ineffective enforcement is the lack of bird identification skills by
law enforcement officers (Brooks-Moizer et al., 2008). This is potentially a serious problem as
various common bird species are permitted for commercial farming under Circular 47/2012/TTBNNPTNT, and wildlife farms are believed to be deliberately mis-declaring wild-caught animals,
including protected ones, as farmed ones to circumvent the laws (WCS/FPD, 2008; ENV, 2016).
An emerging challenge in Viet Nam is online trade. During the rapid assessment of wildlife
e-commerce trade in 2016 (Nguyen and Willemsen, 2016), 74% of advertisements (a total of 180)
offered live birds. Seven advertisements reported the provenance of the birds as from the wild.
E-commerce is regulated by a wide range of laws and regulations, including the Law 51/2005/QH11
on Electronic Transactions and Decree 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce. These prohibit the tradein prohibited goods, which could include regulated bird species. However, for the enforcement of
the illegal online trade, agencies require physical evidence, website posts and IP addresses are notconsidered sufficient evidence.

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TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Ranching
The large numbers of sub-adult Pied Bush Chats and Red-breasted Parakeets observed werepossibly wild-sourced or ranched, where nest sites are monitored and nestlings collected and handreared, rather than captive-bred. These species nest in conspicuous places where eggs or hatchlings
can easily be collected, providing little monetary incentive for captive breeding over wild sourcing
and therefore rendering that unlikely. Furthermore, there is no evidence of commercial captive
breeding of these species in Viet Nam or other Southeast Asian countries. This is corroboratedby Craik (1998), who indicated that nestlings of species such as Oriental Magpie-robins, Pied
Bush Chats, Oriental Skylarks, mynas and parakeets are often removed from nests in the wild andhand-reared, with these tamed birds even offered for higher prices. While well-managed ranching
programmes are potentially a more sustainable option to source certain species compared tostraight out trapping (Beissinger and Bucher, 1992), unregulated off-take from wild nests will havesignificant negative impacts on wild populations (Beissinger and Bucher, 1992; Wright et al., 2001;
Pain et al., 2006).

©Jessica Lee/Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Circular 47/2012/TT-BNNPTNT Regulating the Management of wild exploitation and farmingof common wild animals applies to nine bird species, of which one was observed in this study.
These species can be collected from the wild and/or farmed when permits have been issued foreach individual case of collection from the wild, or species bred. This offers opportunity for law
enforcement action in the case of unpermitted trade of these nine species. However, the capacity ofpermitting and monitoring the application of this circular by the implementing authorities—theViet Nam Administration of Forestry and the Forest Protection Department (under the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development) and the local People’s Committees­—are unclear. The
development of a regulatory framework for the permitting and certification of captive breedingof birds, including species not listed under Circular 47, would allow for improved monitoring ofcommercial captive breeding activities and regulate off-take of parent stock, eggs and chicks fromthe wild.

A nest with chicks taken from the wild

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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Large-scale bird trade persists in in Ha Noi and HCMC in Viet Nam. Almost all birds recorded
were native to Viet Nam, indicating that the bulk of bird trade by physical vendors is domestic.
There is certainly domestic movement of birds within Viet Nam as well as some degree of crossborder trade, but it is currently unclear if noteworthy volumes of cross-border trade in birds to orfrom Viet Nam is taking place.
In terms of law enforcement, approximately 90% of the birds observed in this inventory falloutside national protection. Findings from this and previous studies suggest some species
that are currently unprotected may be threatened by trade, particularly the range-restricted
Vietnamese endemics. Native parakeets, although protected under Decree 32, were still tradedin large numbers. The general lack of effective law enforcement in Viet Nam is hampered by thelack of species identification skills amongst law enforcement officers. Additionally, an emerging
challenge for enforcement officers is the increase in trade carried out online, which presents far
more complications and challenges than trade carried out in open shops and vendors. TRAFFIC
recommends the following:
Legislation and Enforcement• The Viet Nam Government is urged to strengthen existing legislation to include the means tomonitor and regulate the harvest and trade of all wild-caught species to ensure that it does notthreaten the survival of species. Currently only bird species listed in Decree 32’s Group IB andIIB receive protection from overharvest and commercial trade — this currently covers a mere
10% of native birds recorded in this survey.
•

Following from the above, the Viet Nam Government is urged to update and reassess theprotected species list (and introduce regulatory mechanisms) under the Penal Code No.
100/2015/QH13 and Law No. 12/2017/QH14 in conjunction with NGOs and other experts
in the field to include species threatened by trade in Viet Nam according to the IUCN Red
List, such as all native parakeet species, Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus, Red-billed
Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea, White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus, Red-whiskered
Bulbul, range-restricted endemic species and species assessed as threatened by the IUCN Red
List. This exercise should consider threats to birds in the country and be used and updated
accordingly to contribute to the CITES Appendices and IUCN Red Listing processes. As laws
are strengthened and regulatory mechanisms are introduced, the Viet Nam Government isurged to carry out effective monitoring and enforcement actions at locations that sell birds;
where a violation takes place, action should be taken to ensure penalties meted out can act as adeterrent.

•

The relevant departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, including
the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry and the Forest Protection Department, and otherstakeholders such as the local provincial People’s Committees, are recommended to amend
the current regulatory framework for the permitting and certification for the exploitation andfarming of common wild animals—Circular 47­— to cover all wild bird species and include aclear monitoring mechanism for properly permitted captive breeding facilities.

•

Capacity building for law enforcement agencies is recommended as they report a lackof identification skills to distinguish between common and threatened bird taxa. Law
enforcement agencies include but are not limited to the Forest Protection Department (under
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Customs (Ministry of Finance) and
Environmental Police (Ministry of Public Security). The means to identify species commonly

29

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

seen in trade, and relevant training and support can be provided by local wildlife experts andconservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including TRAFFIC.
Monitoring• While full inventories are important to gain a picture of the species and volumes of birds
involved in trade, they are challenging to carry out regularly. Instead, regular monitoringof priority and indicator species over a period of time should be conducted. This is not only
a cost-effective way to monitor the conservation status of key species of concern but also
important in uncovering market dynamics, prioritizing management or regulation actions
and forming the evidence base for making informed decisions concerning trade levels. It istherefore recommended that monitoring of wildlife markets and vendors is continued byNGOs and researchers. This information should be used to support law enforcement efforts
and feed accordingly into the Conservation Strategy for Southeast Asian Songbirds in Trade.
•Price data and source of birds (wild-caught or captive-bred) should also be noted where
possible, to better understand trade trends and dynamics in order to inform conservation
actions. Where relevant and possible (especially where subspecies are known to be rangerestricted and/or vulnerable to offtake), individual birds observed should be recorded tosubspecies level to account for conservation units, taxonomic updates and to determine sourceareas. For instance, white-eyes Zosterops sp. which are traded in large numbers across theregion are likely to face taxonomic rearrangements; monitoring at the subspecies level will help
inform the assessments of threats faced by each conservation unit.

•

Customs, quarantine and port officials are recommended to increase vigilance in monitoringand detecting cross-border trade at checkpoints and around border areas, both for importationand exportation to help provide information about the levels of such trade.

Reducing consumer demand• Commissioning consumer market research is recommended to gain an understanding of
the motivations and practices of those purchasing birds at these markets. This can help withthe development of information for awareness raising and developing targeted messaging
aimed at changing the behaviour of those consumers purchasing birds from illegal and / orunsustainable sources.

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30

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32

APPENDIX
Full list of birds observed during this inventory.

*VN native protected species; ^non-native CITES listed; IUCN Red List status is listed behindEnglish name for threatened and NT species
English nameScientific name

Hanoi
Scaly-breasted Munia

Number of
shops
276

Number of
birds
3378

Lonchura punctulata

Japanese White-eye

Zosterops japonicus

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Chinese Hwamei

Garrulax canorus

White-rumped Munia

Lonchura striata

Pied Bush Chat

Saxicola caprata*Red-breasted Parakeet NT

Psittacula alexandri*White-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus

Red-billed Starling

Sturnus sericeus

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularisBlack-throated Laughingthrush

Garrulax chinensis

Silver-eared Mesia

Leiothrix argentauris

Oriental Skylark

Alauda gulgula

Red-billed Leiothrix

Leiothrix lutea

Crested Myna

Acridotheres cristatellus

Common Myna

Acridotheres tristis

Chestnut-flanked White-eye

Zosterops erythropleurus

9
17
25
22
5
20
7
4
12
15
6
21
16
10
5
11
11
7
2
5
6
1
2
3
4
1
4
4
2
2
1
1
1

596
516
444
248
221
206
161
151
133
104
99
92
77
50
45
45
27
24
16
16
16
16
13
9
6
5
5
5
3
3
3
3
2

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger
White-crested Laughingthrush

Garrulax leucolophus

Zebra Finch

Taeniopygia guttata

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Chloropsis aurifrons

Himalayan Black Bulbul

Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Pycnonotus aurigaster*Alexandrine Parakeet NT

Psittacula eupatria*Common Hill Myna

Gracula religiosa

Oriental Turtle DoveStreptopelia orientalis

Black-collared Starling

Gracupica nigricollis

Light-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus sinensis

Red-billed Blue Magpie

Urocissa erythroryncha

Scarlet Minivet

Pericrocotus speciosus

Black-crested Bulbul

Pycnonotus flaviventris

33

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Black-faced Bunting

Emberiza spodocephalaGrey-capped Greenfinch

Chloris sinica

Japanese Tit

Parus minor^Java Sparrow VU

Lonchura oryzivora

Racket-tailed Treepie

Crypsirina temia*White-cheeked Laughingthrush

Garrulax vassali*Blossom-headed Parakeet NT

Psittacula roseata

Dusky Warbler

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Flavescent Bulbul

Pycnonotus flavescens

Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo

Hierococcyx nisicolor

Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush

Garrulax castanotis

Taiga Flycatcher

Ficedula albicilla

Ho Chi Minh City
Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus*Red-breasted Parakeet NT

Psittacula alexandriJapanese White-eye

Zosterops japonicus

Pied Bush Chat

Saxicola caprata

Chinese Hwamei

Garrulax canorus

Chestnut Munia

Lonchura atricapilla*White-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularis

Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis

King Quail

Excalfactoria chinensis

Black-throated Laughingthrush

Garrulax chinensis

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Chloropsis aurifrons

Oriental White-eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

Common Myna

Acridotheres tristis

Ashy Tailorbird

Orthotomus ruficeps

Silver-eared Mesia

Leiothrix argentaurisWhite-headed Munia

Lonchura maja

Scarlet Minivet

Pericrocotus speciosus

Zebra Dove

Geopelia striata*Common Hill Myna

Gracula religiosa

Great Myna

Acridotheres grandis

Red-billed Leiothrix

Leiothrix lutea

Orange-bellied Leafbird

Chloropsis hardwickii

Eurasian Hoopoe

Upupa epops^Java Sparrow VU

Lonchura oryzivora

Blue-winged Leafbird

Chloropsis cochinchinensis

2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

333

4669

6
20
13
8
10
13
5
10
9
11
5
16
4
2
10
4
10
5
4
2
8
7
5
1
4
2
4

1115
797
282
259
235
203
175
125
117
112
111
107
103
98
63
56
52
46
45
33
29
25
25
24
23
22
20

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

34

Vinous-breasted Myna

Acridotheres burmannicus*Blossom-headed Parakeet NT

Psittacula roseata

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger
Oriental Skylark

Alauda gulgula

White-bellied Erpornis

Erpornis zantholeuca

White-rumped Munia

Lonchura striata

Thick-billed Green Pigeon

Treron curvirostra*White-breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurusBlack-collared Starling

Gracupica nigricollis

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus*Alexandrine Parakeet NT

Psittacula eupatria

Racket-tailed Treepie

Crypsirina temia

White-crested Laughingthrush

Garrulax leucolophus*White-cheeked Laughingthrush

Garrulax vassali

White-shouldered Starling

Sturnia sinensis*Vernal Hanging Parrot

Loriculus vernalis

Asian Fairy Bluebird

Irena puella

Baya Weaver

Ploceus philippinus

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus*Grey-headed Parakeet NT

Psittacula finschii

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Zebra Finch

Taeniopygia guttata

Red-billed Blue Magpie

Urocissa erythroryncha

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Dicaeum cruentatum*Greater Coucal

Centropus sinensis

Black-chinned Yuhina

Yuhina nigrimenta

Common Green Magpie

Cissa chinensis

Indochinese Green Magpie

Cissa hypoleuca

Spot-throated Babbler

Pellorneum albiventre

Blue-throated Flycatcher

Cyornis rubeculoides

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnia malabarica*Chinese Francolin

Francolinus pintadeanus*Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela*Silver PheasantLophura nycthemera

Black-backed Swamphen

Porphyrio indicusBlack-crested Bulbul

Pycnonotus flaviventris^Chattering Lory VU

Lorius garrulus

Chestnut-flanked White-eye

Zosterops erythropleurus

Crimson Rosella

Platycercus elegans

Diamond Dove

Geopelia cuneata

35

5
5
5
5
1
4
1
2
4
4
5
4
5
3
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
4
4
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
1

20
19
17
17
16
16
14
14
13
12
11
11
11
10
10
8
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2

2
1
2
1
1

2
2
2
2
2

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

^Eastern Rosella

Platycercus eximius^Eclectus Parrot

Eclectus roratus

Eurasian Jay

Garrulus glandarius

Green-backed Tit

Parus monticolus

Light-vented Bulbul
Long-tailed Minivet

Pycnonotus sinensis
Pericrocotus ethologus^Pale-headed Rosella

Platycercus adscitus^Princess Parrot NT

Polytelis alexandrae

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

Chalcoparia singalensis

Rufous-backed Sibia

Heterophasia annectans

ShrikaAccipter badiusSuperb Parrot

Polytelis swainsonii

Black-headed Woodpecker

Picus erythropygius

Black-hooded Oriole

Oriolus xanthornus

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Nyctyornis athertoni

Brahminy Kite

Haliastur indus

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Niseatus cirrhatus

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Crested Honey Buzzard

Pernis ptilorhyncus

Gouldian Finch NT

Erythrura gouldiae

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus paradiseus

Greater Yellownape

Chrysophlegma flavinucha

Indian Roller

Coracias benghalensis

Large-billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Masked Laughingthrush

Garrulax perspicillatus

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird

Aethopyga gouldiae

Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos*Red Junglefowl

Gallus gallus

Streak-eared Bulbul

Pycnonotus conradi

Streaked Weaver

Ploceus manyar^Sun Parakeet EN

Aratinga solstitialis

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis tickelliae

Verditer Flycatcher

Euymias thalassinus*Watercock

Gallicrex cinerea

Total

1
1
2
2
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
609

2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8047

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

36

SEPTEMBER 2017

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network,is the leading non-governmental organization
working globally on trade in wild animals andplants in the context of both biodiversity
conservation and sustainable development.
For further information contact:
TRAFFICSoutheast Asia Regional Office
Suite 12A-01, Level 12A, Tower 1,
Wisma AmFirst
Jalan Stadium SS 7/15
47301 Kelana Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
Telephone: (603) 7880 3940
Fax : (603) 7882 0171
Website: www.traffic.org
UK Registered Charity No. 1076722,
Registered Limited Company No. 3785518.

is a strategic alliance of37

TRAFFIC Report: Caged in the city: An inventory of birds for sale in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam