Vietnam’s Hoan Kiem turtles on brink of extinction

Providing a suitably clean home for a legendary old turtle in Hanoi 

The Hoan Kiem turtle is one of the most famous and rarest species of tortoise globally. There are just four left in the entire world, including two in Vietnam: one in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake and anther in Dong Mo Lake. The other two are living in a Chinese zoo.

 The tortoise caught in Dong Mo Lake.

 The turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake has been observed rising to the surface frequently since the beginning of the year, said Ha. But scientists worry about the animal’s health and the environmental condition of the lake.

In Dong Mo Lake, the sole turtle is also feared to be in danger as water levels have continued to drop due to drought conditions. According to Dong Mo Lake’s management broad, the lake is losing water by the day because of prolonged hot, dry weather. more>>

It's About a Huge Turtle in Viet Nam

This undated photo provided by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shows a captive Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle from Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam. Zoo researchers recently discovered one of the rare giant turtles in the wild in northern Vietnam.

This blog is really not about news of any sort; however, it was impossible to ignore this story, since we know about the legend of the mythical turtle living deep in the waters of the Hoan Kiem lake who swallowed Le Loi's sword. Ha Noians reported sightings of the creature, and have claimed that blessings came to them thereafter.

According to scientists, the above turtle, thought to be extinct, once existed in only two geographical areas: China, and Hoan Kiem Lake in Viet Nam. This latest discovery has scientists excited, and represents hope for the species.