The Management Board of Pu Hu Nature Reserve in Quan Hoa District in the central province of Thanh Hoa have discovered two rare turtle species, the impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa) and big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum).

The discovery is made as part the 'Investigation and assessment of the current distribution and conservation of big-headed turtles and impressed tortoises in Pu Hu Nature Reserve' project.

It aims to sustainably protect the ecosystems of Pu Hu forests, including protecting and maintaining the existence of turtle species.

Impressed tortoises belong to the tortoise family Testudinidae, order Testudinata. They are found in mountainous forest areas in Southeast Asia, mainly in Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and northeast India. The species has a golden brown shell and skin. An adult could have a maximum carapace length of 35cm.

They usually take shelter in ditches or wet valleys at 1,500m. Their diet includes fruits, grass and mushrooms.

The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is a turtle in the family Platygastridae from Southeast Asia and southern China. They have large unretractable heads and long tails. The species mainly live in streams in the forest and seek food at dusk or night. Their main food is small fish, molluscs, crabs, earthworms and other invertebrates.

The management board of Pu Hu Nature Reserve are assessing the current population status and morphological and behavioural characteristics of these two turtle species to build a species distribution map.

The unit also trained staff and local people to raise awareness about conserving turtle species in reserve.

Covering a total area of nearly 28,000 hectares, Pu Hu Nature Reserve has a rich biodiversity with over 500 plants and over 266 animals, including nearly 30 rare species. 

Source: Vietnam News