Vietnam conservationist wins International Princess of Girona Foundation Awards

Vietnamese wildlife conservationist Trang Nguyen (Photo: Thanh Nien)

The young wildlife conservationist received the award for her courageous and inspiring work undertaken in wildlife conservation both in Vietnam and elsewhere globally.

As part of its press release to announce the awards, the Spanish Embassy in Vietnam emphasised that Trang Nguyen showcases her leadership ability, perseverance, and humility. Her efforts have been recognized as she pursues an intersectional approach that also encourages women and young people to participate in the protection of wildlife.

The award is expected to be presented to Trang Nguyen in Girona, Spain, in June.

Born in 1990 in Hanoi, the young wildlife conservationist witnessed firsthand how animals were cruelly exploited as a child, prompting her to dedicate her life to working with wildlife in Vietnam.

Trang finished her PhD in Biodiversity Management at the University of Kent in England before setting up WildAct, a non-profit organisation which helps authorities to monitor illegal wildlife trade markets.

In 2019, she was named among the BBC's list of the top 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world, as well as being listed among 30 young influential people under 30 by Forbes Vietnam. In addition, she received the annual award of Future for Nature Foundation in 2018.

In 2020, her graphic novel "Chang Hoang Da – Gau" was published with the aim of raising public awareness of endangered species, the friendship between people and wildlife, as well as the hard work of activists to protect animals.

The publication is currently receiving great attention, not only in Vietnam, but also overseas. Some large foreign publishers, such as Penguin random House of the United States, Bookdream of the Republic of Korea, Jieli of China, Ayrinti of Turkey, Fontini of Norway, and AST of Russia have since bought the book's copyright for their publication.

She and her co-author, painter Jeet Zdung, are set to introduce the second book, "Chang is Wild about Elephants", to the public. The novel tells the real story of the horrific situation Asian elephants are coping with in camps where they are being used for entertainment, such as elephant riding and circuses.

The Princess of Girona Foundation first created the International Award in 2019 to recognise the professional and personal efforts of young people from all over the world who stand out for their work and merits.