Soldiers from the border guard post in Phuoc Thuan portcollaborated with the authorities of Xuyen Moc district’ Phuoc Thuan communeto organise the release on May 15.
Earlier on the same day, the wild animal was handed over bya local man who accidentally caught it near HoTram beach.
The turtle, scientific name Eretmochelys imbricata, is oneof the five sea turtle species in danger of extinction in the world andVietnam. Many of them are living in the territorial waters of the province's Con Dao district.
In Vietnam, any act of illegally hunting, killing, raising, confining,possessing, transporting, or trading of sea turtles or their parts and productsis a serious violation of the law and may be subject to prosecution with apenalty of up to 15 years in prison./.