An endangered hawksbill turtle, scientifically named Eretmochelys imbricate, was released back to the ocean yesterday by Bình Thuận Province’s Department of Fisheries.
The endangered hawksbill turtle is released into the water.
Lê Tuấn Công, who voluntarily handed over the turtle to the department, said he bought it nearly two weeks ago.
Since the turtle has a special colourful shell, he kept it in an aquarium at his restaurant. Soon after a friend told him that the turtle was featured on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Công reported and transferred it to the department for release.
According to Bình Thuận Province’s Department of Fisheries, this hawksbill turtle weighed 4kg and was in good shape at the time of release.
It is one of the rare species of marine turtles facing a high threat of extinction and requiring strict protection.
