Expats in Ho Chi Minh City Rescue Trafficked Turtles
	Visit the Sea Turtles' Nursery in Con Dao

During the training program, participants were instructed in advanced skills in sea turtle and marine mammal rescue, emergency response, care of injured individuals, and methods for releasing them back into the wild.

The training program also introduced methods for collecting information on unintentional exploitation of sea turtles and marine mammals, an important task to understand the status of the species and develop appropriate management measures.

The training program on “Instructions for rescuing sea turtles and marine mammals and information collection on unintentional exploitation of sea turtles and marine mammals". (Photo: People's Police Newspaper)

According to the Department of Fisheries, sea turtles and marine mammals are an indispensable part of the marine ecosystem. Five species of sea turtles have been recorded living and feeding along coastal areas and offshore islands of Viet Nam, including chelonia mydas, hawksbill turtles, green turtles, caretta caretta, dermochelys coriacea and more than 30 species of marine mammals. All these species of sea turtles and marine mammals are listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the IUCN Red List.

Bui Thi Thu Hien, manager of the marine and coastal program of IUCN Vietnam, said that Nui Chua National Park (Ninh Thuan province) has the second most numbers of turtles coming to the nesting grounds, just less than the numbers in Con Dao National Park (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province). The Management Board of Nui Chua National Park has carried out practical activities for sea turtle conservation. Notably, the volunteer program is implemented annually to communicate and convey messages nationwide about sea turtle conservation.

According to Le Tran Nguyen Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries, this is an important training program to equip essential knowledge and skills for officers working in marine conservation and fisheries management in localities. Thereby, they can participate in rescue activities, share knowledge and experience, and re-train fishermen on the efforts to rescue sea turtles and marine mammals.

"After the training program, participants not only mastered the skills but also became ambassadors for protecting the marine environment, helping to spread positive messages about conservation to the community", said Hung.

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