Authorities in central Khanh Hoa Province have rescued and released 849 critically endangered hawksbill turtles.
Good news: 849 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) were rescued last week from a farm in Bich Dam Hamlet in Nha Trang City.
According to local news sources, police confiscated the endangered turtles from Mac Tien Nang, who said he had purchased the turtles last October. Nang was cited for violating endangered species trade laws, although the details of his citation were not yet published.
Authorities have reportedly released the turtles – each weighing between seven and eight kilograms – into the Nha Trang Sea Reserve.
The article did not say why Nang was keeping the turtles. However, one can be reasonably confident that they have been saved from certain death.
Hawksbill turtles are classified as critically endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Here’s to the authorities who rescued and released the turtles!
Image source: flickr.com / CC BY 2.0
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
