More and more red-ear turtles are turning up in a lake in Lam Vien Tourist Park in An Giang province where they are released by pilgrims visiting a renowned local pagoda.
Nguyen Minh Vuong, who oversees bus services on Cam (Forbidden) Mountain where the lake is situated, said the turtles began to appear in Thuy Lien Lake four months ago and now number 15-20.
"Forbidden Mountain has never had red-ear turtles. They are brought by pilgrims for luck.
"After eating the food thrown by pilgrims, the turtles usually plod up rocks in the middle of the lake to bask in the sun, which is considered a good omen." Many people visit the Van Linh Pagoda to pray for luck.
The red-ear turtle, which gets its name from the two distinctive red marks around its ear, cannot be brought into Australia because of the threat it poses to local species.
In the wild, the reptile copulates with indigenous turtles and can easily wipe out endemic species.
It also carries the dangerous salmonella bacteria which is a major cause of typhoid in humans.
An Giang authorities are considering measures to safeguard indigenous turtles in Thuy Lien Lake , Nguyen Van Than, a park security guard, said./.
Nguyen Minh Vuong, who oversees bus services on Cam (Forbidden) Mountain where the lake is situated, said the turtles began to appear in Thuy Lien Lake four months ago and now number 15-20.
"Forbidden Mountain has never had red-ear turtles. They are brought by pilgrims for luck.
"After eating the food thrown by pilgrims, the turtles usually plod up rocks in the middle of the lake to bask in the sun, which is considered a good omen." Many people visit the Van Linh Pagoda to pray for luck.
The red-ear turtle, which gets its name from the two distinctive red marks around its ear, cannot be brought into Australia because of the threat it poses to local species.
In the wild, the reptile copulates with indigenous turtles and can easily wipe out endemic species.
It also carries the dangerous salmonella bacteria which is a major cause of typhoid in humans.
An Giang authorities are considering measures to safeguard indigenous turtles in Thuy Lien Lake , Nguyen Van Than, a park security guard, said./.
