Venezuela Saving Endangered Turtles

Venezuela Saving Endangered Turtles Caracas, Jun 23. -A total of 820 Arrau and 5,200 Terecay turtles, which are endangered species, will be taken to their natural habitat next month, as part of a national plan for their preservation.

Venezuelan expert Edis Solorzano, national coordinator for the Arrau Turtle Program, gave the information to Venezolana de Television, in a plan to stop the extinction of these specimens.

Solorzano said the animals are coming from a farm located in the Venezuelan state of Barinas.

Since the beginning of this year, at least 50,800 specimens have been returned to their natural habitat.

The center is located at the Wild Fauna Refuge for Arrau Turtles in Apure and Bolivar.

Representatives of the Venezuelan Environment Ministry, the National Bolivarian Guard, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and other institutions are taking part in the program.

As a result of indiscriminate hunting with commercial objectives, since 1995, these species are part of the Red Book of the Venezuelan National Fauna, which contains an evaluation of nearly 3,800 animals, more than 300 of them in imminent danger of extinction. (Prensa Latina)