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According to experts, red-eared turtles are one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. They damage their ecological surroundings because they eat animals and plants under the water.
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Prof. Nguyen Dinh Hoe from the Association for Natural and Environment Protection, suggested that the Government needs to quickly implement measures to wipe out red-eared turtles as soon as possible because this animal could seriously affect the nation’s ecological balance if left uncontrolled.
The environmental devastation by the turtle is higher than the devastation caused by yellow edible snails because the turtle is bigger, healthier, and lives longer than yellow snails, Hoe said.
To curb the development of the turtle, people need to catch and stop releasing the turtle into rivers.
The warning against the harmful turtle was only made after Can Tho Seafood Joint Stock Company imported 24,000 red-eared turtles from the US. However, these turtles have been in Vietnam for a long time and arrived through several different means. Many people consider the turtle a pet without knowing how much damage the turtle can cause.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told the Can Tho Seafood Import Joint Stock Company to export the turtles as soon as possible. It also asked local authorities to check the numbers of turtles and strengthen inspections at breeding ponds to ensure none escaped.
PV