Linh Ung Pagoda hangs a sign: 'Do not release turtles'

turtle release - Photo 1.

Linh Ung Pagoda hangs a sign calling on people not to release turtles and soft-shelled turtles into the lake - Photo: KIM TUYET

Recently, many tourists and Buddhists have been puzzled to see a sign on the lake behind Linh Ung Pagoda with the words: "Visitors and Buddhists should not release turtles or soft-shelled turtles." Many people wonder why releasing turtles is a good thing and why it should not be done.

The sign "Do not release turtles or soft-shelled turtles" arouses curiosity

The sign attracted attention because most people thought releasing animals was a good deed. They wondered why the temple was calling for people not to release animals.

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh, a Buddhist who received complaints at Linh Ung Pagoda, said: "People continuously release turtles into the lake, and many turtles die.

Several times volunteers came to pick up dead turtles, so the temple had to hang a sign reminding people not to release turtles.

Fish eat algae in the lake to survive, but turtles released into the lake have nothing to eat. People often release them secretly, without anyone knowing.

Thanh Ngoc Truc, a volunteer at Son Tra Peninsula, said that for many months now she has been continuously discovering toothed turtles and striped-necked turtles being released into the lake behind Linh Ung Pagoda. This is an artificial lake with a cement bottom, slippery surface, no shallows and a lack of natural food - conditions that make it difficult for the turtles to survive.

"I have seen many turtles die and get sick because they were released in the wrong environment. One turtle injured its leg because it tried to crawl out of the cold water, but it was slippery and couldn't get up," Ms. Truc shared.

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Turtles are released in the lake in the temple. If no one feeds them, they will die of hunger - Photo: KIM TUYET

Releasing animals requires understanding of ecology and conservation.

According to Tuoi Tre Online , recently many Buddhists bought turtles from street vendors and brought them to the temple to release.

Mr. Ngo Truong Chinh, head of the Son Tra - Ngu Hanh Son inter-district forest rangers, said that some of the turtles recovered from the lake were farmed. "For example, the toothed turtles are raised in the warm climate of the West. They can live both on land and in water. When released into the lake, especially during the cold weather in Da Nang , they cannot bear it and do not know how to find food for themselves because they are used to being kept in captivity, so they gradually die."

It is worth mentioning that although the temple has posted warning signs, the situation of releasing turtles in this lake continues.

turtle release - Photo 3.

turtle release - Photo 4.

Turtles died and were injured because they were released into the wrong environment - Photo: KIM TUYET

Species such as the toothed turtle and striped-necked turtle are on the list of endangered, precious, and rare wild animals that need to be protected. Releasing them in the wrong environment is not only counterproductive but also violates conservation regulations.

Experts recommend that Buddhists should only release animals after carefully studying the living conditions of each species, or support controlled animal release programs carried out by conservation centers or local forest rangers.