The lake was renamed Hoan Kiem Lake or Lake of the Returned Sword based on this legend. But despite the Rafetus swinhoei being revered, it is also extremely threatened. For two decades it has been listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the Red List maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Is the Hoan Kiem turtle extinct?

The lake was renamed Hoan Kiem Lake or Lake of the Returned Sword based on this legend. But despite the Rafetus swinhoei being revered, it is also extremely threatened. For two decades it has been listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the Red List maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

How old was the Hoan Kiem turtle?

It was found dead in Hoan Kiem lake in central Hanoi late Tuesday, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The turtle, which weighed about 200 kilograms, was said to be anywhere between 80 and more than 100 years old.

How many Rafetus turtles are there?

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is considered the most critically endangered turtle in the world, with only four known individuals left on Earth.

What are the four sacred animals of Vietnam?

The Four Holy Beasts (Vietnamese: Tứ Linh (四靈) or Tứ Thánh Thú (四聖獣) are the Vietnamese equivalents of the Chinese astronomical and cultural Four Benevolent Animals. They include the Vietnamese dragon (Long) in the East, the Qilin (Lân) in the West, the Turtle (Quy) in the North, and the Phoenix (Phụng) in the South.

What does the dragon symbolize in Vietnam?

Despite its awesome appearance, the dragon does not incarnate the spirit of evil, and the Vietnamese have always considered the dragon as a symbol of power and nobility. That is why the dragon was chosen as the special symbol of the emperors. The emperor was considered to be the son of Heaven.

How many Red River giant softshell turtles are left?

With only three known animals still alive, time is of the essence. The captive male, in China, may be incapable of breeding.

Why is the Hoan Kiem lake sacred for the Vietnamese?

About the lake If you are lucky, you will catch sight of these giant animals rising out of water. And because tortoise is considered a sacred animal in Vietnam’s culture (along with dragon, phoenix and unicorn), Hoan Kiem Lake then becomes a holy place that nurtures tortoises.

Are softshell turtles endangered?

Although populations within the United States are considered stable, the spiny softshell turtle has recently been listed as an endangered species in Canada. As adults they do not have many natural predators, but it is their eggs and young that are at highest risk.

Did the Rafetus turtle update?

Three known Yangtze giant softshell turtles (Rafetus swinhoei) are now left behind: a geriatric male living in Suzhou Zoo, a wild individual in Vietnam’s Dong Mo Lake, and another wild turtle discovered recently in Vietnam’s Xuan Khanh Lake.

Are softshell turtles rare?

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, but may be virtually extinct in the wild. It is listed on CITES Appendix II. The future of this species rests on the success of the captive breeding efforts or a miraculous discovery of previously unknown populations.