The southernmost province of Ca Mau will temporarily close the UMinh Ha cajuput forest from February 4 till the end of April as the dryseason poses a high risk of catching fires for the area.

According to Nguyen Van Hai, head of the provincial Sub-department ofForest Protection, water level in the area has been going down rapidlydue to dry weather, which hit the forest for over a month.

Fire prevention measures are being intensified while activities offorest exploitation and unauthorised access will be banned during theperiod, said Hai.

Hai, however, revealed thatdomestic and foreigners visitors can still visit the forest site withlocal forest rangers’ guidance.

The U Minh Hacajuput forest spreads over more than 80,000ha in Tran Van Thoi, U Minh,and Thoi Binh districts. It is home to the Vo Doi national forest,which covers an area of 8,000 ha.

The populations ofbirds and wild animals have surged in recent times in the forest in CaMau, according to the province Sub-department of Forest Protection.

There are storks, egrets, cormorants, night herons, and many other species.

To protect the birds, the sub-department has carried out severalmeasures, including preventing people from coming into close contactwith them and providing them with food and water.

Several rare animals, including wild boars, weasels, pythons, andcrocodiles, have also been spotted in increasing numbers.

Local forest rangers said, based on their tracks, wild boars probablynumbered in the hundreds now after not being seen in the forest for manyyears.

Herds of animals had been seen looking for food along the sides of roads, they said.

Ca Mau has banned the hunting, transportation, and sale of rare wild animals since 2000.-VNA