Forty-five rare baby sea turtles are released back into the sea at Phú Quý Island of Bình Thuận Province on August 17. — Photo laodong.vn

BÌNH THUẬN — Phú Quý Island off the south central province of Bình Thuận on Monday released 45 rare baby sea turtles back into the sea.

Đỗ Minh Lộc, head of the Aquatic Resources Protection Station in the island, said the sea turtle is in urgent need of protection. It is listed in Việt Nam's Red Book and is considered an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

This is the first time after more than two years that the sea turtles have returned to the island to lay eggs.

On June 27, staff at the station discovered a mother turtle weighing about 100kg digging a nest in the sand to lay eggs on the island’s Triều Dương Beach.

After more than two hours laying eggs and covering them with sand, the mother turtle swam back to the sea.

The staff was on duty protecting the eggs for 51 days. A net and a notice board set up around the area called on locals to protect the 45 baby turtles when the eggs hatch in the sand nest.

On August 17, shells of the baby turtles had hardened, so the staff released them back into the sea at Hòn Tranh Islet. — VNS