Ho Guom Turtle in the most endangered group in the world

Ho Guom Turtle and the other three types of Vietnam are among the world's 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles.

According to the latest announcement of the World Union for Turtle Conservation, Vietnam ranks second after China when there are four species belonging to the 25 most endangered turtles and freshwater turtles in the world. Including Sin-hoe (Rafetus swinhoei), also known as Hoan Kiem turtle - the rarest species in the world, only one live in Dong Mo lake (Son Tay, Hanoi).

Ho Guom turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) from the rescue in November 2008, when Dong Mo dam was broken.(Photo: Timothy McCormack / ATP / IMC).

Three other species in Vietnam are listed as endangered: Central turtle (Mauremys annamensis), Zhou box turtle (Cuora zhoui) and Batagur turtle (Batagur affinis) . Accordingly, Central turtles are almost extinct in the wild. Previously, they concentrated in flooded areas of provinces and cities such as Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen.

Zhou box turtle (Cuora zhoui) is said to be distributed in the mountains of northern Vietnam, although it has never been found in the wild and their habitat is still a mystery. Batagur (Batagur affinis) extinct in the large river system in South Vietnam, but still exists in Cambodia and Malaysia.

Central Turtle (Mauremys annamensis) is raised at the Turtle Conservation Center, Cuc Phuong National Park.(Photo: Pham Van Thong / ATP / IMC).

Besides these four species, several other species of Vietnam are also in critical condition, including the southern yellow box turtle (Cuora picturata); Northern golden box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons); Central yellow forehead box (Cuora bourreti); Vietnamese three-box turtle (Cuora cyclornata) and prize (Pelochelys cantorii) are distributed in large river systems.