Establish Central Turtle Conservation Center

The Asian Turtle Conservation Program of Cleverland Metropark Zoo (USA) has decided to select the flooded area of ​​Binh Khuong Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province, to build a Central Turtle Conservation Center.

This turtle is in danger of extinction.

Talking to VnExpress.net this afternoon, Mr. Tim Mc CorMack, director of Asian Turtle Conservation Program, said: ' The reason we chose Binh Khuong commune to build a rare Central Turtle Conservation Center is because of the place. This has a good natural ecological environment for the survival of this species. On the other hand, Quang Ngai is a locality located between provinces in the Central region from Da Nang to Phu Yen, so it is very convenient for research and conservation of the Chinese quarter turtle .

Central turtles are classified as rare and endangered animals. Photo: Tri Tin

It is expected that at the beginning of May, this center will be established and built in the first phase on a scale of about 8 ha. Currently many organizations such as the Union for Turtle Life (USA), Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the US Fisheries Resources Protection Office (USF WS) have sponsored the the first paragraph is more than 20,000 USD. This investment capital will increase year by year based on the effectiveness and scale of the project.

Central Turtle (Mauremys anammensis) is a rare and precious endemic turtle discovered in the Central region, concentrated in flooded areas stretching from the provinces of Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen. . This animal is in serious danger because most habitats are lost or fragmented. The change of purpose of use from forest land to agricultural land in some localities, the rapid urbanization speed makes the living environment of Central Turtle gradually narrowed.

Currently, Vietnam has four species of turtles in the list of the most endangered turtles in the world that need to be strictly preserved , including: Shanghai Giant League (Rafetus swinhoei), Turtle of three bars (Cuora trifasiata) , Central Turtle (Mauremys annamensis), Box Turtle zhoui (Cuora zhoui).

According to Tim Mc CorMack, in the beginning, experts will bring 200 individuals of rare turtles at Cleveland Metrapark Zoo (USA) and about 200 individuals from Central Turtle from the Turtle Conservation Center of Cuc Phuong National Park ( Ninh Binh) to Quang Ngai to take care of and breed.