In 2008, Huynh Chi Cong started raising 100 Ran rao Trau Ban (a type of snake) using fresh amphibians as a source of feed. In 2011, with support from Ho Chi Minh City’s Youth Union, he asked for a loan of 200 million dong to establish Phuoc Thinh farm on an area of 15,000m2 including 4,000m² for a facility to raise different wild animal species with 200 stables. Apart from raising Ran rao Trau Ban and Ky da (a type of lizard), he also raises Nui Vang tortoises and Chim Tri do (a type of bird), Chon huong (a type of marsupial) and spot billed ducks.
 

«           Phuoc Thinh Farm always ensures the origin of the animals and standards of the raising facilities which are suitable for the features of animals and environmental hygiene. Ho Chi Minh’s Forest Management Department has regular and sudden inspections to the farm to control its legal raising of animals.                                »

Since its establishment, Cong’s farm has always met the requirements of hygiene and strictly obeys the regulations on inoculation against epidemics so it is granted a certificate under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) every year.

In late 2012, his farm changed into PhuocThinh Trade and Service Ltd., Company with the aim of creating favourable conditions for raising wild animals and looking for partners. Each year, his company raises about 6,000 snakes and Ky da, and 700 commercial tortoises for export with the prices of 700,000 VND, 380,000 VND and 520,000 VND respectively to China and some countries in the Middle East. After reducing all expenditures, his company earns from 300 to 400 million dong.

To multiply his mode, Cong has shared his experiences and instructs families in the locality and neighbouring districts on the techniques of raising wild animals. At present, besides providing the market with commercial wild animals, the company also sells breeding animals to farmers, invests in facilities and collects products of farmers in the locality. According to Nguyen Thanh Cong, Deputy Chairman of Cu Chi District’s Association of Farmers, the model of raising wild animals has strongly developed in recent years and has become a sample for many localities. To helps farmers, Cu Chi District’s Association of Farmers has organized training courses on techniques and technology to raise wild animals./.