Event series organized in Kim Son commune, Son Tay, Vietnam.

Paticipants at the starting point, waiting for departure signal of the referee. Photo by Hoang Thi Phuong Thao – ATP/IMC.


Although another Swinhoe’s softshell turtle individual identified live in Xuan Khanh lake near Hanoi, Vietnam in early 2018, Dong Mo Lake where another wild animal of the critically endangered Swinhoe’s softshell  living still play an important role in the species conservation in Vietnam. Therefore, ATP has collaborated with Hanoi Fishery Department and Kim Son commune People’s Committee to organize an event called “The fourth Rafetus swinhoei protection boat race” on 31st May 2018 to strenthen relationship among local authorities, people and ATP.

Around 250 people gathered at this event, including 15 participants joined the boat races. Because boat racing requires a lot of energy so women only raced one round, who reach the finishline earliest will be the winner while men raced 3 rounds in total, 2 elemination rounds and 1 final one. After intense rounds, Mr. Nguyen Huy Bang and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lieu won the first prizes.

One day after the boat race event, another training workshop in the series of raising awareness about aquatic resources protection and Swinhoe’s softshell turtle workshop has been held at Kim Son commune after the first one in Yen Bai commune. On the same day, Hanoi Fishery Department also organized an event called “Releasing fish to reproduce aquatic resources” at Dong Mo lake.

We would like to thank Hanoi Fishery Department, Kim Son Commune Youth Union, Son Tay Forest Protection Department, and three volunteers from Vietnam National University of Forestry for their corporation and support in organising and running this fourth boat race. We hope to continue working with these local agencies to protect the Dong Mo Turtle. We would also like to thank Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (CMZ), and IUCN for supporting this activity.

Press release by: Hoang Thi Phuong Thao – ATP/IMC

Date: 6th June 2018

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