Save Viet Nam's Wildlife (SVW) and Cuc Phuong National Park has rescued 56 Java Pangolins in Thanh Hoa Province.

Save Viet Nam's Wildlife (SVW) and Cuc Phuong National Park has rescued 56 Java Pangolins in Thanh Hoa Province.

The animals were rescued by authorities last Friday in Nga Son district, 30km north of Thanh Hoa City. Officials said the total weight of the captured animals was 232kg.

This is the largest incident in which officials rescued pangolins being illegally sold in Viet Nam.

According to experts and staff from the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Education Centre, a joint-programme between SVW and Cuc Phuong National Park, pangolins were captured and held by traffickers at different locations.

Officials said all pangolins have since been recovered and will soon be released in area forests.

The centre also rescued a baby pangolin, which was born while being transported.

Also on Saturday, the centre received seven pangolins, six of which were from Pu Mat National Park in Nghe An Province, and one donated by a resident in HCM City.