With the arrival of summer we are seeing an increase in the number of confiscation made by local authorities in last few weeks in northern provinces of Vietnam. 10 days ago, out team made their first rescue of 2017 in Bac Giang province with 11 turtles of three endangered species including Big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum), Impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa), and the Giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis).
Today (14th April 2017), we have made another trip to Lang Son province, near the border with China, on a mission to rescue 11 endangered Keeled box turtles (Cuora mouhotii) which were confiscated by Lang Son Forest Protection Depart Mobile team two night ago. Reportedly, these turtles were being transported illegally by a man who lives in Van Quan district, Lang Son province who has been fined 6 million VND (approx. 300USD) for purchasing and transporting illegal wildlife.
We would like to thank Lang Son provincial Forest Protection Department (FPD) for their confiscation and rapid transfer of these animal to the TCC. We aim to undertake our first release of Keeled Box Turtles in May or June this year from animals that have been rehabilitated following big confiscations in 2015 and 2016.
If you would like to support our rescues and upcoming releases this summer, please make your donation through our website at http://www.asianturtleprogram.org/pages/support_atp.html
Date: 14th April 2017
Press release by: Hoang Van Ha – ATP/IMC and Do Thanh Hao – TCC
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