Report Date: 2021-09-24

On 24 September 2021, Beijing News reported that villagers in Nanyang City, Henan Province, mistakenly released an exotic ‘Florida soft-shelled turtle’ as a ‘Chinese soft-shelled turtle’. Professor Shi Haitao, vice president of Hainan Normal University, said the Florida turtle, also known as the pearl turtle, cannot be released. Florida soft-shelled turtle introduced from abroad, especially for economic farming, but it belongs to the foreign harmful species in China, and its release will lead to invasion and overflow. He also reminded all breeding units to take proper precautions against the escape of aquatic products. The Wildlife Protection Law stipulates that if wildlife species are introduced from abroad, safe and reliable precautionary measures should be taken to prevent them from entering the wild environment and avoid causing harm to the ecosystem. If it is necessary to release them into the wild, it shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant state regulations; any organisation or individual releasing wild animals into the wild environment shall select local species suitable for survival in the wild at the place where they are released, and shall not interfere with the normal life and production of the local residents, so as to avoid causing harm to the ecosystem. People who release wild animals at will, cause damage to other people's persons or property or endanger the ecosystem will be held legally responsible according to the law.

Professor Shi Haitao, vice president of Hainan Normal University, introduces the Florida turtle

(Photo by Beijing News)

Attachment: Interview link：https://www.hicn.cn/system/2021/04/17/032540855.shtml