More than 100 turtles that were released by people at the lake by Nam Son pagoda have now been handed over to rangers by the pagoda and released at Cuc Phuong National Park. These turtles, including striped turtles and box turtles, were voluntarily surrendered by the pagoda on April 25. They were living together in the lake, sunbathing under concrete pillars.
The Hoa Vang Forest Ranger District received a total of 114 turtles from Nam Son Pagoda in Hoa Chau commune, Hoa Vang district. Over the years, many turtles of different species have been released by people at the temple, leading to a mix of turtles living in the lake. The forest ranger department had urged the temple to hand over the turtles, and they contacted the nature protection center in Hanoi to assist in taking the turtles to Cuc Phuong National Park.
Nam Son Pagoda is a popular destination in Da Nang, attracting many visitors and tourists who come to visit and pray. The temple grounds feature a large lake where people often release turtles and fish. However, due to the variety of species released into the lake, their habitat is not well-preserved. By relocating the turtles to Cuc Phuong National Park, researchers can study and classify the species, determine their habitat needs, and release them back into the wild where they can thrive.