THE HOAN KIEM TURTLES OF VIETNAM

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| Inbox <javascript:HM('curmbox=F000000001')> Legendary Hoan Kiem

turtle most endangered of its kind

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The legendary turtles living in Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam's capital Hanoi

are the most endangered freshwater turtles in the world, said the Vietnam

Wildlife Conservation Society.

 

Up to now, only one single individual of the species has been seen in the

lake, the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Society said. According to Vietnam's

Red Book of Endangered Species, the species is possibly the Asian giant

soft-shelled turtle.

 

14th century legend

 

The legend of the rare turtle species goes back to the mid-1400s when the

great king Le Loi used a heaven-sent sword to hold off Chinese invaders.

 

After the final battle, as the king was boating in Hanoi, his sword leapt

from its scabbard and into the mouth of the turtle. The turtle plunged

underwater with the sword, never to be seen again, and the lake has been

known as Ho Hoan Kiem ever since — the Lake of the Returned Sword.

 

Many Vietnamese believe the turtle with Le Loi's sword is still living in

the lake which would make the sacred turtle about 550 years old.

 

Meanwhile, some international scientists believe the huge turtles could be

an entirely new freshwater species, one never yet documented or studied.

Their theory relies on the analyses of a few photographs that show the shape

of the turtle's head and shell.

 

Vietnam is home to 23 terrestrial and freshwater kinds of turtles. All

creatures are considered extremely endangered.

 

Reported by Lien Chau – Translated by Hieu Trung.