On October 29, speaking with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Xuan Cai - Head of the Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Thanh Hoa Provincial Forest Protection Department - said that for the illegally captive tigers in Xuan Tin commune, Thanh Hoa province is currently seeking opinions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Hanoi People's Committee to hand over to Hanoi Zoo for care and raising.
"Because this requires opinions on establishing the right to use public assets, the province is having to ask for opinions from the Ministry and Hanoi City. After receiving the feedback, we will proceed with implementation" - Mr. Cai informed.
Previously, in mid-September 2025, after receiving a document from the Department of Forestry and Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) on strengthening the management of tiger captivity facilities, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Thanh Hoa coordinated with relevant agencies to work with the family of Mr. Nguyen Mau Chien - owner of the tiger captivity facility.
Through the work, Mr. Nguyen Mau Chien agreed to unconditionally transfer and did not request compensation for all adult tigers to units and centers that were eligible for receipt according to regulations.
By October 20, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province had issued a directive to assign the Department of Agriculture and Environment to preside over and coordinate with relevant units, study information on facilities capable of rescuing, caring for and being ready to receive (without fee) tigers provided by the Center for Nature Education, to implement the transfer of 9 tigers.
It is known that in 2007, Mr. Nguyen Mau Chien (residing in Hanoi) bought 10 tigers (each weighing about 7kg) from a stranger in Laos and raised them in Xuan Tin commune. After being discovered to be illegally held, Mr. Chien was fined 30 million VND but was still assigned to take care of the tigers. In 2008, he continued to buy 5 more tigers and was administratively fined an additional 30 million VND.
By mid-2017, the tiger breeding and growth permit of the farm had expired. After that, the farm owner repeatedly applied for a new license but was not approved due to legal regulations.
Over the years, from the initial 15 individuals, 6 tigers have died, currently the farm has 9 pigs, each weighing from 150 - 200kg. Notably, 2 individuals died in 2023 and 2024, weighing about 200kg/child. The tiger's remains have been sealed and preserved in the freezer under the supervision of the government and forest rangers pending handling.
