After undergoing a health check by staff from the Cồn Cỏ Island Marine Protected Area Management Board, the sea turtle was released back into the wild in the presence of local residents and visitors. VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG TRỊ — A rare green sea turtle was released back into its natural habitat at Cửa Việt beach in the central province of Quảng Trị on June 8 following a joint effort by local authorities, the Cồn Cỏ Island Marine Protected Area Management Board, competent forces and local residents.

The turtle was discovered a day earlier by a fisherman in Cửa Việt commune while he was fishing in waters off Cồn Cỏ Island. The animal had become entangled in a drifting fishing net.

After carefully removing the turtle from the net, he brought it safely ashore and ensured its well-being before notifying the local authorities.

The turtle, weighing around 3kg with a shell measuring approximately 32cm in length and 23cm in width, was examined by staff from the Cồn Cỏ Island Marine Protected Area Management Board before being released into the sea in the presence of local residents and tourists.

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), locally known as vích, is a rare and protected species under Việt Nam law. It is also listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species of conservation concern and is included in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). — VNA/VNS