QUANG NGAI — A rescue station and conservation park for endangered turtles would be built in central Quang Ngai Province by the Asian Turtle Preservation Programme (ATP).

The conservation area would include different zones to encourage turtles to stay and increase their population, while the rescue station would aim to help turtles multiply for release back into the wild, Nguyen Dai, head of the provincial Forest Management Department, said.

Other project components included boosting local awareness to curb the wildlife trade of endemic turtle species, and boosting the abilities of local authorities to conduct research and preservation activities, Dai said.

"Research showed that Binh Son District was the most suitable living environment for these turtles. Experts will determine the best location for the station later this month," Dai said.

Plans called for the station to initially accept 100 pond turtles, some from the Turtle Conservation Centre in Cuc Phuong National Park, northern Ninh Binh Province.

These pond turtles, mauremys annamensis, were discovered in the wetlands of Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen Provinces.

Rapid urbanisation has been blamed for the loss of their natural habitat.

The rare turtles were only found in Viet Nam's central regions and were considered at high risk of extinction. They were thought to be lost forever until some were re-discovered in the coastal wetlands of central Quang Nam Province in 2006.

The programme was made possible thanks to a US$20,000 grant from the Cleveland Metropark Zoo. — VNS