The Swinhoe’s Softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is also known as Hoan Kiem turtle was believed to be almost extinct in the wild. No surviving turtle was known until one was spotted in Dong Mo Lake in 2007. On May 24, another one was spotted in Xuan Khanh Lake.
In 2016, the only one Swinhoe turtle, which was believed to have lived for 200 years, in Hoan Kiem Lake died.
A plan has been carried out to preserve the turtles in Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh lakes for the 2018-2020 period with a view to 2030. On October 22, the authorities collaborated with experts to catch the turtle in Dong Mo Lake give it a health check and other tests. The turtle weighed 86kg, and its shell was 99.5cm long and 75.5cm wide. The experts also found that it is a female.
The DNA tests at the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, further confirmed that it is a Swinhoe’s Softshell turtle.
The representative of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said as of now, they have spotted two turtles in Dong Mo Lake and one in Xuan Khanh Lake. In 2021, they will catch other turtles for gender identification. A search will be carried out to find out if there are more turtles living in Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh lakes.
From 2021 to 2025, more research will be carried out before the captive breeding plan is realised in 2026.
There are only four Swinhoe turtles found in the world including three in Vietnam and one in China.
Some photos of the turtles:
Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle
