Man caught transporting tiger skin, ivory products

They stopped Nong Van Nhan, 32, on Sunday while he was driving a car in Trung Khanh District and found three tiger skins, two pieces of black skin from an unknown species of animal and some jewelry made from ivory, Voice of Vietnam newspaper reported.

Authorities are investigating further.

Vietnam is one of only 13 countries with tigers left in the wild, but its populations are plunging though in 2010 the country pledged to double tiger numbers by 2022.

Tigers are critically endangered in Vietnam, with only five thought to be left in the wild in 2016, down from 30 in 2011, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

As for ivory, Vietnam outlawed its trade in 1992 but remains a top market, with ivory products being prized for decorative purposes and traditional medicine.

Weak law enforcement has allowed a black market to flourish, with Vietnam a busy thoroughfare for tusks trafficked from Africa mainly to China.

Violation of conservation laws in the case of endangered animals is punishable by up to seven years in jail in Vietnam.