A 4kg hawksbill turtle, a rare species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam
and the world, was released in the central province of Binh Dinh on
June 25.
Vo Ngoc Lai, who lives in Dong Da ward of the
province’s Quy Nhon city, caught the hawksbill turtle on June 24 and
handed over the animal to relevant agencies and local authorities.
The next day, the Binh Dinh Sub-department for Aquatic Resources
Exploitation and Protection in coordination with local fishermen and
volunteers in the city’s Nhon Hai commune released the turtle back into
the sea.
According to Tran Thi Bich Ha from the
sub-department, the hawksbill turtle is one of five sea turtle species
that inhabit Vietnam’s waters.
The Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora lists
the turtle as in danger of extinction, therefore it is illegal to catch
or trade the species.-VNA