Vietnam hauls in beloved turtle for medical treatment

BBC News 3 Apr 11;

An ailing giant turtle revered as a symbol of Vietnam's independence has been captured for medical treatment.

Thousands of people crowded around a lake in the capital Hanoi as about 50 rescuers swam and used boats to pull nets around it.

The turtle, which is believed to be more than 100 years old, has open sores on its neck and legs.

Its plight has made headlines in Vietnam for several months but it evaded earlier rescue attempts.

It is feared that rubbish and pollution in Lake Hoan Kiem may have caused its wounds.

Another theory is that the sacred reptile, which weighs about 200kg (440 pounds), has been injured by fishermen's hooks and other smaller turtles over the course of several years.
'Fine and stable'

Three nets of varying sizes were used to finally bring the turtle under control.

Some rescuers swam with the netted reptile, leading it into a cage which was escorted by two boats to an island where the turtle's condition is to be assessed.

"Generally, the turtle is fine and stable," said turtle expert Ha Dinh Duc.

Official Vietnamese media have said the turtle, known reverentially as "the great grandfather", may be as much as 300 years old, although experts estimate it is more likely 80-100 years old.

"You could say it is a representative of the country so bringing the turtle up for treatment is a necessity," said Luu Tien Xuan, 78, a Hanoi resident.

"The people are concerned. The leaders are concerned... It would be sad if Ho Guom [another name for the lake] didn't have the turtle in it anymore."

Thousands cheer capture of revered Vietnam turtle
Tran Thi Minh Ha Yahoo News 3 Apr 11;

HANOI (AFP) – Thousands of onlookers cheered in central Hanoi on Sunday when rescuers captured for treatment an endangered and ailing giant turtle revered as a symbol of Vietnam's centuries-old independence struggle.

On the first attempt to snare it in polluted Hoan Kiem Lake one month ago the feisty old animal broke free from a net.

This time about 50 rescuers took about two hours --- and three nets of varying sizes -- to finally bring the turtle under control.

Some of the workers swam with the netted reptile, leading it into a cage which was escorted by two boats to an islet where its condition is to be assessed.

"This is one of the most endangered animals in the world and there's very little known about it," said Tim McCormack of the Asian Turtle Programme, a Hanoi-based conservation and research group.

Local media reported that the critically endangered soft-shell turtle, which weighs about 200 kilograms (440 pounds), had been injured by fish hooks and small red-eared turtles which have appeared in the lake in recent years.

The animal's status in Vietnam stems from its history and its home in Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword), rather than its rarity.

"It's very important culturally here," said McCormack.

In a story that is taught to all Vietnamese school children, the 15th century rebel leader Le Loi used a magical sword to drive out Chinese invaders and founded the dynasty named after him.

Le Loi later became emperor and one day went boating on the lake. A turtle appeared, took his sacred sword and dived to the bottom, keeping the weapon safe for the next time Vietnam may have to defend its freedom, the story says.

The turtle has generally surfaced only rarely -- its sightings deemed auspicious -- but has been seen more often in recent months as concern mounted over its health.

Its plight caught the attention of Hanoi's city government, which created a "Turtle Treatment Council" of experts led by a senior veterinarian in the agriculture department, Vietnam News Agency said.

McCormack said the animal, which is likely more than 100 years old, is one of only four Rafetus swinhoei turtles known to be in existence. Two are in China and one lives in another Hanoi-area lake, he said.

Vietnamese refer to Hoan Kiem's legendary resident as "great grandfather turtle", but its sex is unknown.

The islet where it was to be examined holds a small temple-like structure called "Turtle Tower" that is commonly featured in tourist pictures. It will be held in a special tank with filtered water instead of soupy-green contaminated lake water.

"A lot of people have been saying the pollution in the lake has been a serious factor in the animal's health," said McCormack, whose organisation was among the experts advising authorities on how to help the creature.

Spectators hoped the treatment will succeed.

Nguyen Le Hoai, 31, said she spent all day lakeside waiting for the turtle's capture because it "is the symbol of the country, and the symbol of this lake".

Hanoi searches for the second ancient turtle
Vietnam Net 5 Apr 11;

VietNamNet Bridge – The group of workers and underwater commandos who caught the Hoan Kiem turtle on April 3 is searching for the possible second turtle in the lake after discovering big bubbles on the surface.

The group leader, Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, who is also director of the KAT Group, which has bread turtles for many years, said that workers saw many big bubbles on the surface after the Hoan Kiem turtle was driven to the Turtle isle for treatment.

“This morning (April 4), workers of KAT Group traveled around the lake with a big net to search for the second turtle. They discovered big bubbles that might be made by the second turtle near Hang Trong street,” Khoi said.

Dr. Nguyen Viet Vinh, a member of the council for treatment of Hoan Kiem turtle, said that on April 3 while the observing group detected bubbles of a big turtle near the Ngoc Son Temple, workers found a very big turtle near Hang Trong street.

“At that time we decided to catch the turtle that was nearest to the net. At that time, the net was near the Ngoc Son temple,” Vinh said.

Khoi said that once the first turtle is cured, workers will catch the second turtle for treatment.

However, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc, who has researched the Hoan Kiem turtle for 20 years, confirmed that there is only one Hoan Kiem turtle in the lake, which is now being treated on the Turtle isle.

Related to this turtle, experts said that its wounds are not so serious. The treatment process is scheduled for two weeks only. After that, the turtle will be moved to a big tank near Dinh Tien Hoang road for convalescence.

“The wounds on the ancient turtle are not as serious as many people thought. He is very strong. he lost some claws because he is very old. There are some wounds on his neck but are not ulcerating much,” said Khoi.

During the treatment process, scientists will make DNA tests of the turtle to define its sex.