On the morning of 27/1, Vu Thi Huong Giang, General Director of Saigon Zoo, reported that staff discovered one female white swan missing from its enclosure during a routine check at 6h yesterday. The swan had been housed with a flock of flamingos in a large enclosure spanning hundreds of square meters.

The white swan was returned from Can Tho City to Saigon Zoo after being stolen. *Photo: Saigon Zoo*

The theft took place in the late afternoon of 25/1, a time when the zoo was sparsely populated, allowing the thief to go undetected. The perpetrator used equipment to cut through a fence to access the animal. Following the discovery, the zoo's management board reviewed security camera footage and immediately reported the incident to the police.

Police quickly identified and arrested a suspect in Duc Hoa commune, Tay Ninh province. The arrest came after the man had already sold the swan to an individual in Can Tho City.

Saigon Zoo staff successfully retrieved the white swan and have placed it in isolation to prevent disease. The zoo currently cares for only one pair of white swans, which were brought from Europe many years ago.

Saigon Zoo, spanning 20 hectares, is a historic institution built over 160 years ago. It stands as one of the 8 oldest zoos in the world, home to 138 animal species and hundreds of rare plant species.

Hoang Nam - Dinh Van