Bay Canh Island is one of the largest islands in the Con Dao archipelago, known for beautiful beaches, in southern Vietnam, but not for tourism.

The lack of tourists isn’t a coincidence.  Bay Canh Island is one of Vietnam’s biggest sea turtle conservations.

During breeding season, from July to October, the conversation’s forest rangers are worked to capacity, day and night, protecting the sea turtle eggs buried across the beach.

After the sea turtles gave birth, forest rangers record their measurement information and attach tags to their fins before moving the eggs to a safe place for incubation.

After 46 to 60 days of incubation, rangers prepare to return the hatched baby turtles to the ocean.

For every 1000 baby turtles, only one will grow to continue the reproductive cycle.

Below are photos by Hoang The Nhiem showing how the turtles are being taken care of.

These photos were one of the entries to Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper's year-long competition themed “Vietnam – Country – People" concluding last month.

The beach where sea turtles often choose to lay eggs on Bay Canh Island

A sea turtle starts lays its eggs after finding an appropriate place

A sea turtle hides its eggs with sand before returning to the ocean

A sea turtle hides its eggs with sand before returning to the ocean

A sea turtle starts laying eggs after finding a proper place

A forest ranger checks a clutch of eggs before moving them into the conservation for incubation

Forest rangers measure a sea turtle mother to collect data for research

A forest ranger transfers eggs to a safe place for incubation

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