79 Monkeys take Vietnam bus

HANOI (Reuter): A local bus packed with dozens of long-tailed monkeys and other jungle animals was stopped by officials on its way from central Vietnam to the border with China, a forestry patrol officer said.

Altogether 79 monkeys, nine pangolins and 16 weasels were discovered in a random check and later released into the forest, the official said, confirming a report in a local newspaper.

The report said a 25-year-old woman had been accompanying the animals but did not say what happened to her.

Smugglers earn huge sums sneaking bears, weasel-like pekans, squirrels and lizards into China, where the animals' bones and intestines are often used in traditional medicine.