Poster #22 - Wild animals can be a food source in Vietnam: Results from a mixed – method cross-sectional survey

Thang Nguyen-Tien, Ha Nguyen Thi Thanh, Hu Suk Lee, Sinh Dang-Xuan, Unger, F., Bett, B. and Hung Nguyen-Viet. 2025. Poster #22 - Wild animals can be a food source in Vietnam: Results from a mixed – method cross-sectional survey. One Health 20: 100817.

Background: Although wildlife farming has been promoted as a measure to enhance biodiversity conservation and as an alternative source of food and income, wild animals harbor many infectious pathogens, many of which can infect humans and livestock. In Vietnam, wildlife farming has become a major socioeconomic activity given its major contributions to income generation, food (meat) production, job creation, and economic growth.

Purpose: This study investigates wild animal consumption of wildlife value chain actors in two provinces in Vietnam.

Methods: Following a One Health approach, we collaborated with multiple institutions from Animal Health, Forestry Protection and Public Health sectors to implement a cross-sectional survey in Lao Cai - Northern region and Dong Nai - Southern region. To gain a comprehensive understanding of wild animal consumption, we employed both quantitative and qualitative methods in this study. In total, 347 participants (consumers and farmers) in the wildlife value chain were interviewed using the structured questionnaire. 30 IDIs and 5 FGDs with wildlife value chain actors (farmers, traders, butcherers and consumers) were also conducted.

Findings: Quantitative results indicated that 75.5% participants had consumed the wild animal in the past year, of whom, 34.6% of them were wild animal farm owners. Among 262 consumers, there were 58% male and 42% female with the mean age of 45.7. The most consumed wild animals in study sites were farmed wild boar (54.2%), natural and farmed snakes (33.2%), farmed bamboo rats (29%) and others such as farmed deer, natural squirrel, natural rats, Lonchura/Centropus birds, wild cocks… (43.9%). Especially, some consumers reported eating blood pudding (45 people) and internal organs from (86 people) from from farmed bamboo rats, farmed wild boars, farmed civets, snakes, porcupines and others (deers, squirrel…). Qualitative results also showed that bamboo rats, snakes were among the most consumed wild animals in study sites. Men consumed wild animal meat more than women, especially the male farm owners and those with middle or above middle-incomes. Interestingly, over 40% of consumers reported experiencing at least one health symptom within the past year. The most severe reported illness were vomiting (7 people) and diarrhea (13 people) and all of them attributed these symptoms to the flu, not from wild meat consumption.

Conclusion: There were a variety of wild animals that were consumed by the wildlife value chain actors. This highlights the need for targeted intervention to improve the awareness of the risks associated with wild animal consumption.