Military personnel carry out efforts to conserve the ecosystem on Con Daao Island

ROCKIES OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA: PROTECTING CON DÀO ISLAND'S GREEN TURTLES AND LUSHER GREENERY

BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU - South China Sea's Con Dao Island, often referred to as the 'Galapagos of Southeast Asia,' is now accessible via high-speed ferries and direct flights, a significant development for the itineraries of adventurous tourists. This evolution in transportation has brought an abundance of goods to its residents, alleviating food shortages that were frequent in the island's past.

Located off the southern Vietnamese coast, Con Dao Island was once reachable only by 12-hour boat journeys from Cat Lo Port in Vung Tau City, with boat schedules updating monthly and cancellations due to weather conditions. The island's isolation made daily life challenging for its residents, with inaccessible shorelines leading to food shortages during stormy days when boats couldn't dock safely.

Political commissar of Con Dao Border Guard Station, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Nang, 46, described the shift he has witnessed since his eight-year tenure on the island: "In previous years, it took half a day to reach the island by boat. In rough seas or storms, the boats could not run." Today, high-speed boats reduce the travel time to just four hours, ensuring a constant flow of goods to the island.

The island's verdant forests play a vital role in preserving its fresh water resources. The dense foliage not only contributes to the island's lush greenery but also retains water, ensuring its survival. Soldier Tran Manh Hung, a forest ranger from Ha Tinh Province and head of Bay Canh Islet Forest Ranging Station, has 33 years of experience protecting the island's forests.

Trần Đình Đồng checks a turtle egg-laying site on Bảy Cạnh Islet. Photo congthuong.vn

Years ago, daily life on Con Dao's islets was arduous. Fresh water was scarce, with rations carefully apportioned and the transportation of canisters up steep inclines a common task. The isolation meant that islanders faced many hardships, including extended periods without food during stormy seasons.

The island's robust sea turtle population was once hunted for food, with little restriction on harvesting their eggs. This began to change in 1991 when Con Dao forest protection officials started releasing turtles and, in 1993, the Con Dao National Park was established. In 2014, the Cambodian poaching of turtles was made a criminal offense, triggering a more significant shift in attitudes towards their conservation.

In addition to their role as guardians of the island's forests, soldiers at the Ba Bay Canh Islet Forest Ranging Station take on the crucial duty as midwives for sea turtles. Each year, they assist around 300 to 400 mother turtles in laying their eggs and protecting the nests from threats such as rising tides, hungry predators, and human interference. Conservationists like Tran Dong, from Quang Binh province, have worked tirelessly to monitor and protect these magnificent creatures and their habitats.

With an average hatching success rate of over 80%, Con Dao's turtles have found a safe haven on the island. Despite this success, only one in 1,000 hatchlings survive to adulthood, taking around 20 to 30 years to mature. Conservationists are dedicated to ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to witness these marvellous creatures in the wild.

Tourists releasing baby turtles into the sea. Photo congthuong.vn

This vital conservation work is carried out by individuals like Hung, Ngoc, and Dong, who have sacrificed personal comfort and familial relationships in the name of preserving Con Dao Island's unique ecosystem. "I just hope my wife and children at home understand and support my work so I can focus on my duties and fulfill the responsibilities I have been entrusted with," Đồng said. VNS

[1] More than 29,000 sea turtle hatchlings have been released since the incubation center's inception.[2] The Con Dao National Park and its partners benefit from strong community involvement in turtle conservation efforts.[3] Rescue operations, such as releasing entangled turtles from fishing nets, are a regular occurrence on Con Dao Island.

The evolution of transportation to Con Dao Island, once inaccessible due to long boat journeys, has significantly improved the lives of its residents, alleviating food shortages that were frequent in the past.
High-speed ferries and direct flights now bring an abundance of goods to the island, transforming the itineraries of adventurous tourists.
In previous years, it took half a day to reach Con Dao Island by boat, making travel difficult during rough seas or storms.
Today, the island's lush forests play a vital role in preserving its fresh water resources, contributing to its distinctive greenery and ensuring its survival.
The dense foliage of the island's forests retains water, a crucial factor in maintaining the island's sustainability.
Years ago, daily life on Con Dao's islets was arduous, with fresh water scarcity and steep inclines making canister transportation a common task.
The island's robust sea turtle population was once hunted for food, leading to a significant decline in their numbers.
Conservation efforts began in 1991 when Con Dao forest protection officials started releasing turtles and established the Con Dao National Park in 1993.
In 2014, the Cambodian poaching of turtles was made a criminal offense, marking a turning point in attitudes towards their conservation.
Soldiers at the Ba Bay Canh Islet Forest Ranging Station assist around 300 to 400 mother turtles each year in laying their eggs and protecting the nests from threats.
Conservationists like Tran Dong, from Quang Binh province, have worked tirelessly to monitor and protect these magnificent creatures and their habitats.
The average hatching success rate of Con Dao's turtles is over 80%, but only one in 1,000 hatchlings survive to adulthood.
The dedication of conservationists like Hung, Ngoc, and Dong ensures future generations have the opportunity to witness these marvellous creatures in the wild.
These individuals have sacrificed personal comfort and familial relationships in the name of preserving Con Dao Island's unique ecosystem.
More than 29,000 sea turtle hatchlings have been released since the incubation center's inception.
Strong community involvement is a crucial factor in the success of the Con Dao National Park's turtle conservation efforts.
Rescue operations, such as releasing entangled turtles from fishing nets, are a regular occurrence on Con Dao Island.
In addition to this, the island's rich biodiversity offers opportunities for scientific research in environmental-science, particularly in the fields of climate-change and marine-biology.

Military personnel carry out efforts to conserve the ecosystem on Con Daao Island