Leaders of Pu Mat National Park said on May 29 that the park had received a rare impressed tortoise from Tam Thai Commune police for care and monitoring before its release back into the wild.
Residents in Nghe An Province have found two impressed tortoises in quick succession, a species classified as rare wildlife (Photo: Pu Mat National Park).
A day earlier, Kha Van Huy, a resident of Lung Village in Tam Thai Commune, discovered the turtle near a residential area while on his way to work. Suspecting it was a rare wild animal, he brought it to local police.
After examination, authorities identified the animal as an impressed tortoise, scientifically known as Manouria impressa, weighing about 1.5kg. The species belongs to Group IIB of Vietnam’s list of endangered, precious and rare forest animals protected by law.
Following completion of legal procedures, Tam Thai Commune police transferred the tortoise to the Tam Hop Forest Protection Management Station under Pu Mat National Park for care before releasing it into its natural habitat.
In a separate case earlier this week, Nguyen Canh Vinh from Truong Vinh Ward discovered another impressed tortoise inside the grounds of an office building where he was working.
Vinh later handed the animal over to the Vinh , Cua Lo Forest Protection Department. Authorities said the tortoise weighed around 3kg and also belonged to the protected Group IIB category.
After receiving the animal, forest rangers coordinated with Pu Mat National Park to carry out rescue operations and health checks to ensure the tortoise was fit for release into the wild.
A rare impressed tortoise found by a resident in Nghe An Province and handed to Pu Mat National Park for rescue (Photo: Pu Mat National Park).
Authorities have urged the public not to hunt, keep, trade or illegally transport endangered wildlife species. Residents are encouraged to promptly report sightings of wild animals or related violations to authorities for handling in accordance with the law.
