Fishermen in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam reintroduced a leatherback sea turtle weighing an estimated 200 kilograms to the ocean on Thursday after the animal was entangled in a fishing net.

Authorities in Tam Tien Commune, Nui Thanh District said on Friday that the large turtle, over 1.6 meters long, was released back into the wild following its net entanglement.

Fishermen on board a fishing vessel, anchored some 10 nautical miles from the shore of the commune, found the leatherback sea turtle after pulling in their fishing net.

The black turtle was brought to the ship and had the net removed from its body.

The sea turtle was identified as a rare animal that needs protection. Therefore, these fishermen released it back into the wild.

This was the second time these fishermen on board the ship had discovered a turtle getting stuck in a net.

In April, a turtle weighing nearly 30 kilograms was released back into the ocean after it got tangled in their fishing net.

The leatherback sea turtle, whose scientific name is Dermochelys coriacea, is the largest among sea turtles. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys.

A mature leatherback sea turtle can measure up to two meters in length, and weigh from 250 to 700 kilograms.

In Vietnam, the sea turtle is listed as a rare and endangered animal.

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