18/06/2026 12:39 - Internacionales
Gatos rescatados en jaulas mirando con esperanza, ambiente de refugio animal con luz cálida que simboliza un nuevo comienzo
Vietnamese authorities achieved a major blow against animal trafficking in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), where nearly 400 live cats were rescued from a criminal network that was selling them for human consumption. The police operation, conducted last Thursday, dismantled an organization that had been operating for at least three years.
The discovery was shocking: in a parking lot in the city, officers found 45 cages containing live cats and another four boxes holding 80 frozen cat carcasses. Many of the rescued animals showed signs of malnutrition and weakness.
According to the Ho Chi Minh Police report, the nine detainees confessed to trapping cats for the past three years. The gang sold batches of animals at least twice a week at an approximate price of $2.80 per kilogram. The cats were then transported to various locations across the country for distribution.
The Saigon Zoo (also known as Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, one of Vietnam's oldest zoos established in 1865) has taken responsibility for protecting many of the rescued animals and posts daily photographs on Facebook to help owners identify and reclaim their pets. It is estimated that a significant portion of the cats had been stolen from their owners.
Phuong Pham, national director of the organization Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society International, an international animal protection NGO), described the grim reality: "Every month, thousands of cats are stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered for their meat across the country, and most end up in a slaughterhouse or a restaurant to be killed and consumed."
According to the NGO, cat meat consumption also persists in other Asian countries. In China, approximately four million cats are slaughtered each year for this purpose. The organization continues working to eradicate these practices and promote animal protection in the region.
Despite the horror of the discovery, there are reasons for hope: 40 cats have already been reunited with their families, and the Saigon Zoo continues sharing images to locate more owners. Pregnant females and kittens born after the rescue are receiving specialized veterinary care.
This case highlights the importance of strengthening animal protection laws and citizen reporting mechanisms. International organizations continue pushing for cats and other companion animals to receive the legal protection they deserve.
Source: EFE Agency, Infobae, Humane World for Animals, Ho Chi Minh Police Department.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
