28 Smuggled Endangered Turtles to Return to Native Vietnam

In a heartwarming display of international cooperation and commitment to conservation, South Korea is returning 28 endangered turtles of four distinct species to their native homeland, Vietnam. These turtles, which were previously confiscated for smuggling, have been under the care of the National Institute of Ecology (NIE) in South Korea.

The repatriation effort, scheduled for May 12, will see the turtles transferred to a specialized conservation facility within Vietnam's Cuc Phuong National Park. This center is recognized as Asia's largest facility dedicated to the conservation of freshwater and terrestrial turtles, playing a crucial role in the preservation of Southeast Asian endemic species.

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This turtle species transfer is of great significance for the wild restoration of internationally endangered turtles to their native habitats.

The turtles being returned include critically endangered and endangered species such as the Keeled Box Turtle, Indochinese Box Turtle, McCord's Box Turtle, and Black-breasted Leaf Turtle. Their classification by the IUCN underscores the urgency and importance of this conservation initiative.

The NIE has been operating a CITES Animal Protection Facility since 2021, dedicated to protecting wildlife that has been smuggled or abandoned. This initiative with the Vietnamese turtles is the seventh such international transfer of endangered species managed by the NIE, following the successful repatriation of animals like the Serval, Chinese Giant Salamander, and New Guinea Crocodile to various countries. This ongoing commitment demonstrates South Korea's dedication to global biodiversity efforts.

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We will continue to expand international restoration activities, such as the transfer of smuggled or abandoned CITES animals to their native habitats, to contribute to biodiversity conservation.