Con Dao to revive annual run for sea turtle conservation

The third year of the Save Turtles Run will kick off on August 17 by the The Secret Con Dao Hotel and AKYN Hospitality Group.

The main message of the event is "Every step we take, miles of green we make", aiming at promoting sea turtle conservation efforts in Con Dao and raising awareness among local communities and tourists.

The 2024 Save Turtles Run are welcoming all ages and levels

This year's race features multiple running distances, catering to runners of all levels. Participants can choose from three distances, 3km, 5km, and 10km.

The short 3km distance promises to make the event more accessible to young runners, beginners, or tourists who wish to participate. Meanwhile, the traditional 5km distance is maintained to meet the needs of the majority of participants.

Finally, the 10km distance is considered a suitable challenge for avid runners.

This initiative is not merely a sporting event, but also part of an ongoing effort to protect turtles, the long-standing "residents" of Con Dao.

The Save Turtles Run represents the core value of responsible actions of The Secret Con Dao Hotel and AKYN Hospitality Group towards the environment and local community, in addition to its objective of raising public awareness of the significance of Con Dao turtle conservation.

Each participant is considered an ambassador committed to conservation, spreading the message of environmental responsibility to the community. Through this, the race raises awareness about the importance of sea turtle conservation, encourages sportsmanship, and promotes responsible tourism.

Baby turtles begin their journey back to the sea

Con Dao currently has the largest number of naturally nesting sea turtles in Vietnam. Sea turtle conservation activities have been and are taking place with the continuous efforts of Con Dao National Park.

According to the Con Dao National Park Management Board, about 200,000 baby turtles are rescued and released into the sea annually. However, the survival rate of baby turtles to adulthood is only 1 in 1,000. Therefore, sea turtle conservation work and publicity need special attention.

In Vietnam, Con Dao National Park became the first to join the Indian Ocean - Southeast Asia Sea Turtle Conservation Network as its 11^th member in 2020. Con Dao is the locality with the largest number of sea turtles nesting and breeding in Vietnam.

Con Dao Island pioneers sea turtle protection Lam Duc Du, a forest ranger on Con Dao Island in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau, wakes up at midnight, picks up his flashlight and goes down to the beach to collect turtle eggs.

Con Dao Island A serene home for precious turtles Con Dao National Park on the archipelago off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has been officially listed in the IOSEA Network of Sites of Importance, giving a further boost to the protection of marine turtles.

Save Turtles Run by The Secret Con Dao promotes turtle conservation The Save Turtles Run, organised for the first time by The Secret Con Dao and AKYN Hospitality Group, was a significant event that attracted many tourists to Con Dao island and Con Dao National Park

Save the turtles: Shaping experience for modern travellers in Con Dao A trip starting with a run to save turtles can be an amazing experience, especially when this is happening at one of the most beautiful offshore paradises in the world, with golden sand, crystal-clear water, and lush green plant life.