Vietnam donates precious turtles to Cambodia

Today, a rare "royal" turtle has been moved to Cambodia by nearly 30 years in Vietnam.

The turtle has the scientific name Batagur (Batagur affinis). Nature Education Center (ENV) found it on a trip to Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Area, HCMC. Earlier, the turtle was bought and raised by the workers here on the grounds of the Resort since the 1980s.

After nearly two years of efforts, with the support and cooperation of Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Co., Ltd, Ho Chi Minh City FPD and the Ministry of Agriculture - Forestry - Fisheries of Cambodia, these rare turtles are ready to return. Cambodia.

Batagur turtles are raised in Suoi Tien area. (Photo: ENV)

Batagur affinis is a freshwater turtle that lives in riverside mangrove forests in Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia."This turtle is not only of conservation value, but it also has a special cultural significance for Cambodians with the name of" royal turtle ", said Tran Viet Hung, deputy director of ENV in a statement released in the afternoon. "For a long time, they have been declared a Royal property by the King of Cambodia and strictly forbidden to hunt them."

Mr. Hung added: "The return of fertile female turtles is expected to help increase the populations of turtles that are severely degraded in Cambodia".

At the ceremony for the donation of the Royal Turtle, the representative of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the "royal" turtle will initially be transferred to the Batagur Turtle Conservation Project in the Sre Ambel river basin. Here, it will make a significant contribution to the breeding program to increase the population of Batagur turtles as well as to increase the genetic diversity of this species.

In breeding programs, turtle eggs will hatch in an absolutely safe environment, after which young animals are raised and followed for several years before being released naturally. Protecting mature individuals during breeding and increasing the number of non-natural individuals from breeding sources is the only hope for preserving Batagur turtles in nature.

Batagur affinis is a species of turtle that once had a large population, but has been declining due to excessive human and egg catches, and now only a small number of them live in the nature of the river. SreAmbel, south coast area.

Batagur tortoise is also considered to have disappeared completely in Cambodia until 2000, when a small population was discovered in the Sre Ambel river basin. Last year, only three confirmed female turtles laid eggs in the sand banks of the river.