Leaders of the Quy Nhon Ward People's Committee in Gia Lai Province said on September 14 that they had received a yellow mountain tortoise handed over by a local resident.
The yellow mountain tortoise is found crawling into a resident's yard September 12 (Photo: Quy Nhon Ward Police).
Earlier, at about 2 pm on September 12, Tran Huy Toan, a resident of Quy Nhon Ward, discovered the tortoise crawling into his yard. Believing it could be a rare animal, Toan took it to Quy Nhon Ward Police and handed it over. At the time of receipt, the tortoise weighed about 0.5 kilogrammes and had an injured leg.
According to the Tuy Phuoc - Quy Nhon forest ranger unit, the animal was identified as a yellow mountain tortoise, scientifically known as Indotestudo elongata, which is listed as a Group IIB endangered and rare forest species. The species is also classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
After receiving the animal, Ward Police, forest rangers and local authorities checked its health. The tortoise was then transferred to FLC Zoo Safari Park Quy Nhon in Quy Nhon Dong Ward for care. Once its injury has healed, authorities will complete procedures to release it back into the wild in line with regulations.
Authorities receive the yellow mountain tortoise discovered and handed over by a resident (Photo: Quy Nhon Ward Police).
The Quy Nhon Ward People's Committee commended Tran Huy Toan for his sense of responsibility and voluntary action. It also urged residents who discover or are keeping wild animals not to trade, exchange, transport, slaughter or use them unlawfully.