Young Vietnamese obsessed with collecting natural specimens
The job of keeping specimens helps individuals earn thousands of U.S. dollars per month. In a small garden on the terrace of Khai Hoan’s house in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City, insects have been gathering since early this year. Different species of butterflies and beetles come to reproduce on the trees and eventually die. Previously, Hoan used to get rid of them. However, he discovered that the dead insects maintained their shapes and colors for a long time. This prompted him to start keeping them in glass jars. Since the practice wasn’t popular at the time, Hoan had to learn how to make the specimens himself. He found that most creatures can be turned into specimens, but they require sterilization, reinforcement, and drying. The crucial requirement is to maintain their original shape and color. All phases of the process are performed manually and with great attention to detail. Hoan stated, “If the specimens get too dry, they’re easy to break. On the other hand, if they aren’t...