Ranger Station No. 8 coordinated with Dak Rue Border Gate Border Station to detect animal traps placed in the forest. Photo: Ngoc Lan Yok Don National Park was established in 1992, is the second largest national park in the country, with an area of ​​115,545 hectares and is also the only place to preserve dipterocarp forest (DDF) in Vietnam. DDF is a unique type of forest ecosystem, containing many important and endemic species. Yok Don National Park is home to many wildlife species, including 92 species of mammals, 373 species of birds, 18 species of amphibians, 55 species of reptiles, 373 species of birds and 1,006 species of plants, hundreds of species freshwater fish and thousands of species of insects. Many of these species are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Mr. Pham Tuan Linh, Director of Yok Don National Park said: “Yok Don National Park manages and protects a large forest area. Meanwhile, the swidden area of ​​the people is interwoven with the forest area managed by the Ranger Stations, so the subjects take advantage of the forest to hunt, shoot, trap and catch forest animals. In particular, during the dry season, when the vegetation is on fire, forest animals will move into semi-evergreen and evergreen forest areas for shelter and in places near the remaining water sources in the forest such as forests. lake, puddle. Taking advantage of this behavior of forest animals, many subjects have hunted, shot, and trapped wild animals. Since the beginning of 2020, the Yok Don National Park Ranger force has promptly detected, prevented and handled 37 cases related to wild animals. In which, there are 20 cases with owners and 17 cases without owners; The seized exhibits include 5 individuals of wild animals and more than 120kg of animal meat. In addition, the Ranger force also seized 27 custom shotguns and more than 150 cable traps of all kinds. Most of the main violations are hunting, trapping, illegally catching wild animals and transporting, buying and selling wild animals, violating the State’s regulations on forest protection (carrying vehicles, tools, etc.). illegal hunting of wild animals). Although the number of cases is not large, it has shown the initiative in deploying many preventive measures early and remotely by the Yok Don National Park rangers. For many months now, Mr. Nguyen The Cuong, Deputy Head of Ranger Station No. 9 of Yok Don National Park, and his teammates have had to stretch themselves constantly at a key point deep in the forest, he shared: “The 9th Ranger Station manages the forest. manage and protect 17 sub-zones, equivalent to about 17 thousand hectares of forest. This area is located in the core zone of the National Park. During peak times, there are days when the Station has discovered more than 10 wire traps of all kinds. Most of these wire traps are located in evergreen forest areas and near puddles and water holes in the forest, when animals come to drink water, they will easily get caught in the trap. Specifically, the incident happened on May 5, 2020. During the process of patrolling and undercover, the Ranger force of Ranger Station No. 9 discovered and arrested 6 subjects who violated regulations on wildlife protection; The confiscated exhibits include more than 10kg of dried wild boar meat, a living Mang (roe deer). Ranger Station No. 9 has sanctioned administrative violations against the subjects. In the first half of May, 2021, the Ranger force of Ranger Station No. 9 discovered and seized more than 33 wire traps of all kinds that are installed in the forest. The Force of Ranger Station No. 9 asked the violators to release wild animals back into the natural environment. Photo: Ngoc Lan According to Deputy Head of Forest Protection Station No. 9, if these traps are not detected and seized in time, forest animals will be at very high risk of being trapped. seriously injured or dead; Many times when the patrolmen also encounter these traps, which are very dangerous… Therefore, in order to promptly prevent activities of encroachment and destruction of forests, especially wild animals, the Ranger Station No. 9 has arranged 3 key positions, stationed at key places, coordinated with patrol activities around the area where objects can be used to hunt and capture animals. In addition, the station also cooperates with officers and soldiers of Se Re Pok Border Station and Dak Lak Border Guard to patrol and protect forests. Not only Ranger Station No. 9, but all 16 Ranger Stations and Mobile Teams of Yok Don National Park must always strengthen the force of stationing, latching and clinging to the forest, especially in the dry season to promptly detect and prevent forest encroachment. The coordination work is also effectively implemented by the Ranger Stations, especially with the Border Guard stations in the forest area of ​​Yok Don National Park. Pham Tuan Linh, Director of Yok Don National Park emphasized: “In order to manage and protect forests in general and protect wildlife in particular, Yok Don National Park has directed the implementation of many drastic measures. synchronously, such as increasing the frequency and density of patrols and secret uniforms of the forest rangers, combining patrolling and secret uniforms with focusing on de-trapping and applying science and technology in the process of performing tasks. . At the same time, promote legal propaganda and education to each population in the buffer zone in order to change the habit of depending on the forest of some people. We also work closely with relevant authorities and local authorities, in which, effectively implement the regulation on coordination with the Dak Lak Border Guard Command, between ranger stations and border guard posts.

Mr. Pham Van Thuong (Nam Yet Lighthouse) cleans and maintains the “magic eye” The “divine eyes” During the voyage, every time the ship 571 anchored to the shore while it was still dark, the only thing for us to know the island’s location was from the light of the Lighthouse, also known as the “magic eye”. According to a sailor, currently on the islands and points of Truong Sa island, there are 9 lighthouses in Da Lat, An Bang, Da Tay, Tien Nu, Song Tu Tay, Truong Sa Lon, Sinh Ton, Son Ca and Nam Yet islands. . All 9 lighthouses are operated and maintained by engineers, officers and employees of the East Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Company. The construction of the lighthouse station on the islands was started when the international shipping route expanded at sea and to meet the requirements of protecting the Fatherland in the new situation. In particular, Song Tu Tay lighthouse was first built on the archipelago (1993), 17 nautical miles away from which ships can see bright white lights, single blinking every 15 seconds. The construction of the Lighthouse depends on the geology and coral background. On Song Tu Tay island, the lighthouse is built in the shape of a circular tower in the east of the island; The lighthouse on Da Lat island is built in the shape of an arrow on a coral background, has an iron and steel structure with flower slanting holes to reduce the acceleration of the wind, while the lighthouse on Son Ca island has a cylindrical shape… Son Ca island lighthouse stands tall like a fortress, standing tall in the middle of the ocean and is considered the most beautiful lighthouse in the 9 lighthouses in the Truong Sa archipelago. Tran Van Chien – Head of Son Ca Lighthouse said: “Son Ca lighthouse is 28m high, 25.5m bright center, group 2 white flash, 10 seconds period, 15 nautical miles effective range. During the day, in good weather, dozens of nautical miles away from passing ships can be seen. The lighthouse operates from 5:30 p.m. the previous day to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. On a day with thunderstorms, fog, or bad weather, the lights must be turned on earlier and turned off later. When there is a problem, the main light is damaged, the auxiliary light will be turned on for replacement and the main lamp must be repaired immediately. Under no circumstances shall the Lighthouse be turned off. Because the lighthouse is not only a landmark for ships operating in the area, but also a light of national sovereignty at sea. The “lighters” With the task of not letting the Lighthouse be turned off under any circumstances, engineers, officers and employees of the East Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Company must work day and night. The environment is harsh, often in contact with batteries, acids, mechanical equipment, and conductive objects, but they always fulfill their noble duties. They are considered to be diligent “lighters”, so that the flame of love for their homeland and country always shines. Their idyllic work is a silent sacrifice, the Lighthouse shines with time, which means that their hair is partly gray because of the sun and wind. Son Ca Lighthouse Station Mr. Pham Van Thuong (SN 1990, Nam Yet Lighthouse Station) worked for 4 years in the profession and went to 6 islands to do his duty. “Due to saltwater contamination, the lighthouses are often rusted, if not maintained continuously, the lights are easy to catch fire. Whether it’s scorching sun or howling wind and rain, we have to climb to the top of the lamp post for periodic cleaning and maintenance. At a height of tens of meters, it only takes a small mistake to have an accident. When the sea is rough, at the lighthouse stations on the island, the waves hit the ground floor. Every 15 minutes, the brothers have to take turns on duty to check the technical parameters. Now there is solar power, so it’s less difficult, but before, it was very tiring to use the generator to generate electricity. It was an opportunity for me to come to the profession,” said Pham Van Thuong. The “magic eye” is never allowed to turn off, because it is lit from the hearts of all officers and employees of the Stations and the naval soldiers guarding the rooster of the Fatherland on a remote island… As a senior in the profession of “lighting lighthouses” for more than 24 years, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan (SN 1976, Song Tu Tay Lighthouse Station) has celebrated Tet more than 15 times on the island. Mr. Tuan confided: “Working in harsh climates and poor conditions, although it is hard, it has trained me more will and bravery. I am proud to work in Truong Sa. Looking at the bright lights in the black sky, I feel that my country is too sacred. Each flash is the breath and life of the person lighting the fire. To do this job, you must love the job, love the sea and islands of the homeland to complete the task well.” Mr. Bui Van Son (Chief of Sinh Ton Lighthouse Station) is considered an ancient tree of lighthouse stations in Truong Sa. With a period of more than 25 years, Mr. Son has gone to all 9 stations, with the lighthouse he went to for the fifth time. “Each station has its own look, different facilities and conditions. As the station chief, I had to balance the food, calculate how it was reasonable, and then call the mainland to buy what’s urgent so that my brothers and sisters would be less needy. In addition to regulating the work in the station, I often capture the emotional feelings of the staff, timely motivate, help people overcome difficulties. Along with carrying out the task of training and practicing island defense plans, contributing to strengthening the island’s combat strength when situations arise, sports and cultural exchanges are also maintained. We all came together very naturally, the brothers on the station lived more together than with their families,” said Mr. Son. Lighthouse lights run on solar power and automatically turn on and off when it gets dark, but always ensure that the engine and generator operate normally in all conditions, especially prolonged rainstorms. Salt vapor and sea breeze easily damage machinery and technical equipment, so officers and employees must regularly check, preserve and maintain equipment on the station. The “magic eye” is never allowed to turn off, because it is lit from the hearts of every officer, station staff and the navy soldiers guarding the rooster of the Fatherland on a remote island…