Through the Pagoda’s Gates: The Rescue of Endangered Turtles in Da Nang

On April 25, Nam Son Pagoda in Hoa Chau commune, Hoa Vang district released over 100 turtles that had been voluntarily surrendered by visitors to the temple. These turtles, including striped turtles and box turtles, were living together in the lake, sunbathing under concrete pillars. The Hoa Vang Forest Ranger District received a total of 114 turtles from the pagoda and handed them over to rangers for relocation.

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.