{"id":1652,"date":"2017-02-10T09:41:27","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T09:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.conservationpulse.com\/?p=1652"},"modified":"2021-03-05T07:04:29","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T07:04:29","slug":"2017-02-dong_mo_football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indomyanmarconservation.org\/my\/2017-02-dong_mo_football\/","title":{"rendered":"The ‘Dong Mo Football Cup’ organised to support conservation of the world\u2019s rarest turtle"},"content":{"rendered":"

From 31st<\/sup>\u00a0of January to the 09th<\/sup>\u00a0of February 2017, the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) in collaboration with Kim Son Commune Youth Union organised the fifth football event to promote conservation of the world\u2019s rarest turtle, the Hoan Kiem turtle (Rafetus swinhoei<\/em>). Only three individuals of the species are known in existence in the world; of those, two individuals are living in Suzhou zoo, China. Only one living animal has been confirmed living in Vietnam in Dong Mo lake, Son Tay district, on the outskirts Hanoi.<\/p>\n

After 11 intense matches, two outstanding teams made it to the final, the Nha Tho – \u201cThe Church\u201d Team and Nghia Son Hamlet Team. After 90-minute of heated play, the teams drew 0-0 and the game went to a sudden death 11 meter shoot-out. \u201cThe Church\u201d team were victorious, winning the turtle championship 2017.<\/p>\n

After the match, the Chairman of Kim Son commune, Mr. Nguyen Van Mong, delivered a speech to express his gratitude towards the sponsors and to highlight the importance of the Hoan Kiem turtle in Dong Mo Lake. At the same time, through this event, he also wanted to remind the need for local collaboration in support of protection of this rare species.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would like to thank The Asian Turtle Program (ATP) for holding such a meaningful activity. Luckily, with the organization\u2019s advocacy, we now recognize that we live next to a very rare turtle. Together with the organization, our people will conserve this species in Dong Mo lake.\u201d Mr. Nguyen Van Thuc \u2013 a local fisherman who has been fishing in the lake for 30 years said.<\/p>\n

Press release by: Nguyen Tai Thang – ATP\/IMC
\nDate: February 2017<\/p>\n