A tiger is lured into a cage before being transported to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Binh

Vo Cong Anh Tuan, head of Science and International Cooperation of the Pu Mat National Park in Nghe An, said personnel have been luring the tigers into cages for half a month so they could get used to them before being transported to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh, around six-hour car drive to the south.

Making them accustomed to the cages, they will not need to be sedated, which would be better for their health, said Tuan.

The cages were loaded onto a truck which began its journey Tuesday morning.

Nguyen Van Thai, director of the Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW) nonprofit, said the tigers would be released into a semi-wild environment and contribute to ecological tourism efforts.

The tigers, then cubs, were first found by Nghe An police in Dien Chau District in August last year when they were trafficked in a seven-seat car heading towards Nghe An. They were then handed over to Pu Mat National Park to be raised. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park later stated they wanted to raise the tigers and received approval from Quang Binh authorities.

Tigers are endangered animals listed on the IUCN Red List. Their population is threatened by poaching for illegal wildlife trade.

As of last year, there were around 360 tigers licensed to be raised in Vietnam, according to data from the IUCN.

Source: VnExpress