Speaking with Lao Dong, a representative of the Department of Forestry and Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) said that white-legged chickens have been successfully raised in captivity at a number of farming facilities. However, successful farming is not enough to remove this species from the list of endangered, precious and rare species.
Because the natural population of this species is assessed to be degraded due to loss of subsidence and being hunted for food and ornamental plants. In addition, the estimated population size is just under 10,000 individuals and the number of adults in each sub-population is still <1,000 individuals.
That is the reason why the Vietnam Red Book (2024) classifies this species as endangered (VU). The inclusion of white-legged chickens in the List of endangered and rare animals is in accordance with the criteria of Group IIB stipulated in Circular No. 27/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 24, 2025 of the Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
"To raise and trade endangered, precious, and rare animals such as white-cheeked chickens, people need to comply with regulations on farming facilities, register for issuance of farming facilities codes, open farming monitoring books, carry out procedures to confirm forest product declarations when purchasing, transporting, transferring ownership rights and animal quarantine procedures, and prove legal origin according to regulations," added a representative of the Department of Forestry and Forestry.
In addition, the Department also recommends that to avoid unfortunate incidents, people should proactively study the provisions of the law carefully before starting to raise endangered, precious and rare animals. People can contact a competent authority such as the local Forest Protection Department for specific instructions on farming registration procedures in accordance with regulations.
Currently, inspection, supervision and handling of violations in parallel with propaganda activities are considered an effective measure in the work of protecting and conserving endangered, precious and rare species, not only in Vietnam but also implemented in many countries around the world. In the coming time, the Department of Forestry and Forestry will direct its affiliated units to step up propaganda work, strengthen inspection, supervision and handling of violations, especially post-inspection and traceability.
Previously, immediately after issuing legal documents, including Circular No. 27/2025/TT-BNNMT, the Department also issued Document No. 1192/LNKL-CITES to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of provinces and centrally run cities, proposing to strengthen propaganda and dissemination of the provisions of Circular No. 27/2025/TT-BNNMT to people, businesses, owners of farming and growing facilities in the area; arrange resources and facilities to carry out administrative procedures with decentralized authority, ensuring smoothness and efficiency.
