Nghe An province releases an extremely rare turtle back into the wild

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Duy, Acting Deputy Head of the Quy Chau Forest Protection Unit, on July 4, 2025, the unit received a handover of a healthy yellow-headed box turtle from a local resident in Chau Binh commune, Nghe An province. The turtle had been swept away by floodwaters and was found stranded along the roadside during a heavy downpour.

To ensure the turtle's safety and proper habitat conditions, on July 7, after completing the necessary procedures, the Quy Chau Forest Protection Unit, in coordination with the People's Committee and Police of Chau Binh commune, relevant professional agencies, and the Management Board of Pu Huong Nature Reserve, released the yellow-headed box turtle back into the wild, specifically into the special-use forest area of the Pu Huong Nature Reserve.

It is known that the yellow-headed box turtle (scientific name: Cuora galbinifrons) is a rare and precious species classified under Group I, found in Vietnam, particularly in the humid forest regions across all three parts of the country. This species is well-known for its unique ability to “box up” by completely closing its plastron to protect itself from predators.

The yellow-headed box turtle is currently facing the risk of extinction due to habitat loss and illegal hunting, especially for wildlife trade.

At present, this species has been listed among the 50 most endangered species in the world.