Setting up a rescue station for conservation of rare and precious turtle

The Asian Turtle Conservation Program (ATP) of Cleverland Metropark Zoo (USA) decided to grant US $ 20,000 to the project to set up a central turtle conservation station in Quang Ngai, at the risk of extinction.

This morning, Quang Ngai Forest Protection Department head Nguyen Van Han said that ATP is conducting field surveys, interviewing people in the province, determining habitat coordinates, delimiting the boundaries of functional areas. . to implement the Central Turtle Conservation Project.

The Central Turtle ( Mauremys anammensis ) is a rare and precious endemic turtle discovered in the Central region, and is specially cared for, concentrated in flooded areas stretching in the provinces of Da Nang and Quang Nam. Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen.

Rangers from Quang Ngai Forest Protection Department are inspecting some rare Central Turtle species discovered in Duc Pho district, Quang Ngai province, and handed over to Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh).Photo: Tri Tin

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.

Through a field survey, the Asian Turtle Conservation Program said that Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province, is the best place to live for the Central turtle. This is the location chosen by ATP as a species habitat.

Central Turtle ( Mauremys anammensis ) is a rare endemic turtle discovered in the Central region. Photo: Tri Tin

The project's rehabilitation center will initially receive about 100 rare and precious Central Turtle species that are being cared for at Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center and some localities throughout the country. According to Han, the project includes demarcated functional subdivisions to protect turtles in good conditions in order to increase the amount of reproduction in the wild.