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Activity name (as stated in the original proposal):
Activity 4.1 Produce analytical reports on wildlife trafficking.
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Service (to be performed):
Conducting surveys to gather updated information on the situation of cross border wild bird trade in selected locations in Viet Nam.
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Location of Service provided: Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Long An.
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Duration of Service’s performance:
May – June 2024
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WCS’s person in charge (PIC): Nguyen Viet Anh
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I. Background:
Wildlife trade in Viet Nam has been seemingly heated up since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trade of wildlife in all forms within the country (wildmeat, exotic pets, medicine, etc.) has been on the rise, while the cross-border trade of wildlife between Viet Nam and neighboring has also accelerated.
WCS has developed three situational analysis reports of wildlife trade between Viet Nam and China, Laos, and Cambodia in the context of post-COVID-19. The analysis highlighted how wildlife trafficking is adapting to the current situation, especially emerging issues and trends (traded species and products, new routes, modus operandi, or payment platforms…), as an adaptation in response to post-COVID-19 changes in the government regulations and consumer behavior. Specifically,
- Cambodia has been identified by some Vietnamese investigative journalists as a source of imported wild meat and exotic pets (including many wild birds) for sale in Long An province and Ho Chi Minh City
- In 2023 and early 2024, various seizures were conducted in Viet Nam but related to China involving hundreds of exotic pets (parrots, turtles, lizards. Kangaroos, camels, etc.). Some of them have the indicated links to Ha Noi city and to other neighboring countries (such as Thailand, and Laos)
- In December 2023 and January 2024, there were at least 4 wildlife seizures in Viet Nam related to both Viet Nam and Laos which involved bears, tigers, pangolins, serows and more than 1,000 exotic pets of various species (bulbuls, various parrot species, turtles, snakes, lizards, chameleons, etc.)
Our seizure analysis, online monitoring and observation have recorded an emerging trend of trading songbirds, parrots, raptors, other ornamental birds, and many other exotic pets from neighboring countries into Viet Nam and within Viet Nam.
To monitor and verify the current situation and trends that will be synthesized into analysis reports of the cross border wildlife trade between Viet Nam and China, Laos, and Cambodia as mentioned above, WCS will conduct field surveys in some locations, tentatively Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Long An province. These areas have been identified as transit/destination points for wildlife trade routes from Cambodia to Viet Nam (Long An province and Ho Chi Minh City), and from Laos to Viet Nam and China (Ha Noi). They are also considered as hotspots of wild bird trade and consumption in Viet Nam because:
- Ha Noi is a well-known location for wildlife trade and consumption reflected in the highest recorded number of seizures in Viet Nam. Dozens of wild bird shops have been identified here in the past. Based on our recent observation, this trade covers hundreds of species of wild birds, and many of them have been imported from neighbouring countries.
- Ho Chi Minh City is also a well-known location for wildlife trade and consumption. Similarly to Ha Noi, it is also a hotspot for wild bird trade including dozens of exotic species, wild birds and other wildlife from both Viet Nam and Cambodia were sourced to fill the city’s demand.
- Long An is a neighbouring province of Ho Chi Minh City and known as a source and a transit for transporting wildlife from Cambodia to be consumed in Ho Chi Minh City. Thanh Hoa market in Long An province is known to be one of the largest open wildlife markets in Viet Nam that still exists despite many law enforcement effort. In this market, ornamental birds (including songbirds and speaking birds), meat birds (including water birds), and raptors were all advertised for sale.
Therefore, WCS Viet Nam needs recruit two experienced external consultants to support WCS staff to carry out this field survey.
II. Objectives:
The external consultants will support WCS staff in conducting the field surveys, particularly collecting and synthesizing information about:
- Primary physical locations of wild bird trade;
- Taxa of commonly traded wild birds (categorizing into target use, such as meat birds, mercy release birds, songbirds, parrots, raptors, other talking birds, other ornamental birds; and their origins);
- Prices of these commonly traded wild birds;
- Popularity and scale of the trade of wild birds imported to Viet Nam;
- Other wildlife taxa are also traded along with the wild birds and the popularity and scale of their trade.
III. Description of work:
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Activities
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Outputs/ deliverables
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Tentative timeline
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Allotted time (# of days)
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Payment schedule
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Activity 1: Conduct a quick desk-based review of wild bird trade in Viet Nam to:
- Review and provide inputs/comments to the field survey plan (locations, methodologies, detailed schedule, etc.) developed by WCS.
- Develop a data collection spreadsheet.
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Inputs/comments to the survey plan provided;
The data collection spreadsheet was reviewed and approved by WCS
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The last week of May 2024
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To be determined according to the consultant proposal and agreed upon by WCS
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1st payment after completing Activity 1&2, upon approval on submission of the raw & cleaned data
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Activity 2: Lead the field survey trips (with the support of WCS staff) in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Long An province:
- Observe and record expected data and information following the approved operational plan and methodologies.
Notes: The locations of the field survey trips could be adjusted based on the actual conditions with prior approval of WCS.
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Raw and cleaned data of the information gathered from observation
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The last week of May to the 3rd week of June 2024
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To be determined according to the consultant proposal and agreed upon by WCS
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Activity 3: Develop report:
- Synthesize collected information and data and develop a brief report (minimum 10 pages following a template provided by WCS) of the key findings and initial assessment of the situation of the wild bird trade and consumption in the surveyed locations.
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01 brief report (minimum 10 pages, in Vietnamese) highlighted key findings from field surveys approved by WCS
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The last week of June 2024
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To be determined according to the consultant proposal and agreed upon by WCS
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Final payment after completing Activity 3, all deliverables submitted and approved by WCS.
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Total allotted time (total working days): To be determined according to the consultant proposal and agreed upon by WCS.
V. Application procedure:
Interested candidate(s) are invited to send following documents to vietnamconsulting@wcs.org before noon time of May 23, 2024:
- Updated CV(s)
- A technical proposal including a research/survey implementation plan with methodology, subjects, and survey locations;
2. A financial proposal (in VND, the estimated total number of working days and daily rates, field trip costs, if any, and all taxes and fees, such as personal income tax, VAT, etc.)
Note: Only shortlisted candidate(s) will be contacted