On Friday afternoon, an endangered mountain turtle (Manouria impressa) was released to the Son Tra Nature Reserve by forest rangers of the Son Tra-Ngu Hanh Son Forest Ranger Division, according to a spokesperson for the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The newly-released turtle was found by Mr Nguyen Van Tinh residing in Ngu Hanh Son District’s Hoa Hai Ward on 2 September. At that time, the turtle was healthy.

After finding the turtle crawling into his house, Mr. Tinh captured and handed it over to the functional bodies.

After that, the Son Tra-Ngu Hanh Son Forest Ranger Division in collaboration with the Tho Quang Ward authorities in Son Tra District, and the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches, released the rare animal to the wild.

The mountain turtle belongs to Group IIB which features rare animals restricted from being held in captivity, hunted, traded or killed. This animal is also listed in the Viet Nam Red Data Book of endangered plants and animals. It is an indigenous animal at some mountainous areas in Southeast Asia, and this species is extremely rare with its yellow-brown shell and skin.