The reptiles are identified as two individuals of Giant Asian pond, two of yellow-headed temple, one keeled box, a red-eared slider, and one Southeast Asian box turtle.

Le Van Truong of the forest management office of Bac Tra My district said that as the turtles are endangered species, administrative punishments will be imposed on illegal keepers and authorities will soon release the wild animals back into the wild.

Earlier, upon receiving information from local people, relevant agencies checked a coffee shop in the Tra My town of the district and discovered the seven turtles being kept without legal documents.

Vietnamese laws prohibit the hunting, trading, transporting, storing, and killing of wild animals. –VNA