A total of 250 people, including departmental officials, teachers, students and Red Cross members visited the Bantbwe Forest Nursery and Tortoise Rescue Centre in Nawnghkio Township, Kyaukme District, Shan State (North), yesterday.
During the visit, Nawnghkio Township Forest Department Staff Officer U Kyaw Kyaw Tun explained the nursery’s operations and seedling cultivation techniques, while Dr Tint Lwin, incharge of the Tortoise Rescue Centre briefed visitors on tortoise breeding, conservation activities and the centre’s objectives.
The visitors also toured the facility and raised questions, which were answered by officials. Established on 6 December 2012 with technical and financial support from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Tortoise Survival Alliance (TSA), the centre was caring for 699 tortoises of seven species as of October 2026, according to the Forest Department. The tortoises comprised 345 Burmese roofed tortoises, 140 elongated tortoises, 65 yellow tortoises, two Arakan forest tortoises, two black pond turtles, 24 black marsh tortoises and 121 red-necked pond turtles.
IPRD/KZL
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