A box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) at Xuân Liên Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoá Province. VNA/VNS Photos

THANH HOÁ — Seven species of turtles have been discovered at Xuân Liên Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hóa as a result of the 2020-2023 project on conserving, rescuing and raising turtles at the facility.

Forest rangers detected four box turtles (Cuora galbinifrons), two big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum), two impressed tortoises (Manouria impressa), one black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri), one four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata), one keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii), and softshell turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis).

A four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata).

These species have been listed in the Việt Nam Red Book and need to be conserved.

Phạm Anh Tám, Director of the Xuân Liên Nature Reserve Management Board, said over the project's three years, the board has conducted seven field investigations on 28 routes with a total length of more than 184km, and placed 59 camera traps.

The nature reserve is home to many species of turtles.

It has also handed out leaflets to the community and schools and organised training courses to raise public awareness of conserving turtle species. — VNS