Ho Chi Minh City forest protection officials and Wildlife at Risk have released three sea turtles saved as part of a sea turtle protection project, the NGO said in a statement.
The three Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as critically endangered, were released at sea off the coast of the south-central province of Ninh Thuan at 3p.m. Wednesday, said Wildlife at Risk, also known as WAR.
One of the turtles weighed 20 kilograms, one 14 kilos and the other 9 kg. They were found in the possession of Ho Chi Minh City traders by a WAR mobile unit and were then cared for by WAR during a quarantine period at the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.
The three turtles have been electronically tagged so that environmental conservation officials can keep track of them.
The Ninh Thuan Sea Turtle Protection Project aims to protect the sea turtle habitat in southern Vietnam. It is part of a joint campaign between WAR and the government to encourage local residents not to buy, keep or consume Vietnam’s native wildlife.