Handing over mountain turtle to Pu Mat National Park

The two mountain tortoises were previously raised by Ms. Dang Thi Minh Khue. Photo: Phuong Linh

Previously, Ms. Dang Thi Minh Khue's family (Hung Binh Ward, Vinh City) was given a turtle by a friend, and she let her two children raise it. However, after some information, she knew that raising it like that was not good for the turtle's development, so she encouraged her two children to release it into the wild. After much encouragement, the two children agreed. Ms. Minh Khue shared: "This is a way to help children appreciate wild animals and the natural environment."

Staff at Pu Mat National Park Wildlife Rescue Center take care of turtles after receiving them. Photo: Phuong Linh

Upon receipt, the mountain turtle weighed 1.7 kg and was in normal health. Accordingly, the Wildlife Rescue Center will raise it for about 4 months before releasing it back to its proper habitat in Pu Mat National Park.

The impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa) is a species of animal native to the mountainous forest areas of Southeast Asia, such as Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. The impressed tortoise usually lives on land in ravines and valleys, the turtle has a yellow-brown shell and skin, with a maximum size of 35 cm.

Localities in Vietnam where the mountain tortoise is found are Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Lam Dong provinces. This species is listed in the Vietnam Red Book of Animals, class V.