Hoan Kiem Turtle leads the danger of extinction

A list of the 10 most endangered turtles in the world has just been published by the International Conservation Organization (CI), including turtles in Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, at the highest alarm level.

This information was researched and released by turtle conservation specialist Peter Paul Van Dijk, director of the International Conservation Organization on September 10.

An individual species of turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. (Photo: Discovery).

In the list of 10 species of tortoises and freshwater that are facing the danger of extinction, there are two species of Vietnam turtles: Hoan Kiem turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) standing at number 1; and Central turtle (Mauremys annamensis), which is endemic in Vietnam, ranked ninth.

There are only 4 individuals in the world like turtles like Hoan Kiem Lake , including one living in this lake and one living in Dong Mo Lake (Son Tay, Hanoi). The other two children are kept in China.

The Hoan Kiem Turtle and Central Turtle are both under the Research and Protection Program of the Asian Turtle Conservation Program (ATP). ATP has been conducting research and surveys to search for the remaining species in nature and habitats suitable for their conservation; organizing activities to raise community awareness and efforts to call and cooperate with local authorities and conservation agencies.

The program is working to determine if the individual Hoan Kiem turtle in Dong Mo Lake is still in place, in order to carry out a breeding pair in the hope of maintaining the " tortoise- like tool ."

The Central Turtle category (Mauremys anammensis) is a rare endemic turtle species concentrated in flooded areas of provinces and cities such as Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen, but due to the majority of the environment. the life lost or divided, the change of use purpose from forest land to agricultural land, urban development has made the living environment narrowed.

Besides the two species of turtles, some of Vietnam's other turtles are also in an extremely dangerous situation , almost all of them in the list above are Golden Boxed turtles (including the Northern Yellow Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons). ), Central Yellow box turtle (Cuora bourreti) and Southern Yellow box turtle (Cuora picturata).

Many people are now concerned and worried about the turtle's life in Hoan Kiem Lake when "he" is living with a hook on his back and many other wounds. According to Tim McCormack, Director of the Asian Turtle Conservation Program, if you leave the Lake Turtle Turtle with a hook, it will affect the health of the turtle. However, according to Assoc.Prof.Dr Ha Dinh Duc, the hook on the turtle shell does not affect his life.

Dr. Peter Paul van Dijk said: ' If we do not act now to protect turtles' habitats and apply stronger measures to prevent buying and selling turtles as pets and food. then we will have to face a prospect of actually not seeing turtles permanently '.