According to Mr. Trinh Dinh Bach (65 years old), the person directly managing the tiger farm in Xuan Tin commune (Thanh Hoa), the farm has existed for nearly 20 years but captivity has encountered many difficulties, especially legal procedures and feed costs.
In 2007, Mr. Nguyen Mau Chien (in Hanoi, Mr. Bach's cousin) bought 10 tigers (each weighing about 7kg) from a stranger in Laos and brought them to raise in Xuan Tin commune (old Tho Xuan). 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 30 million VND.
Over the years, from the initial 15 individuals, 6 tigers have died, currently the farm has 9 pigs, each weighing 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.
Currently, the farm is about 2km away from the residential area, 4,000m2 wide, with two barns with rain or shine shelters, dining areas, veterinary rooms, corridors, and playgrounds. The surrounding wall is 4.5m high, covered with a B40 steel net. The barn has 3 layers of doors and warning signs.
"Currently, I directly take care of the tigers, from sweeping the cages to feeding them. The main food is whole chickens, the amount changes seasonally. In the cold season, the tigers eat about 100kg/day, and less in the hot season, said Mr. Bach.
Mr. Bach added that for many years the farm has encountered financial difficulties in raising tigers and repairing barns. The farm owner hopes to soon transfer the tigers to a competent unit, complete legal procedures to continue managing, and support care costs. However, up to now, no unit has received it.
Mr. Le Van Ha - Head of the Kech Son Forest Protection Station - said that the tiger growth and breeding license of the farm has expired since mid-2017. The farm owner has repeatedly applied for a new grant but has not been approved due to legal regulations. Currently, interdisciplinary forces and local forest rangers come every week to record the quantity, check the health and safety of the farm.
A representative of the Thanh Hoa Forest Protection Department said that over the years, the unit, functional agencies and farm owners have repeatedly sought direction to manage the tiger herd, but so far there has been no solution.
