Hand over two rare mantis turtles

On May 28, the Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Forest Protection Department reported that it had received two rare mantis turtles from a local resident through its hotline.

Specifically, Mr Dang Hoai Phuong from Kim Long Ward, Hue City, discovered these two endangered mantis turtles in his garden. He handed them over to the authorities, wishing for them to be released back into the wild.

After receiving the turtles, the Provincial Forest Protection Department transferred them to the Hue City Forest Protection Sub-department to complete the procedures for their release into their natural habitat, following legal regulations.

The mantis turtle (Cuora mouhotii) is classified as an endangered and rare forest animal under Group IIB according to Government Decree No. 06/2019/ND-CP.

According to the Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Forest Protection Department, this is the second time in 2024 and the sixth time overall that Mr Dang Hoai Phuong has voluntarily handed over rare and endangered wildlife species to the authorities.

The mantis turtle belongs to the family Emydidae and the order Testudinata. This species has a carapace length of 18 cm and a flat back with three distinct ridges (but no blackish-grey streaks). Males have longer and thicker tails compared to females.

In Vietnam, the mantis turtle is primarily found in the provinces of Lao Cai, Thai Nguyen, Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An...