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HanoiThe results of the analysis of the softshell turtle in Dong Mo Lake showed that it belonged to the Sinhoe species (Rafetus swinhoei), also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle.
On the morning of December 18, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and related units announced the above results.
According to Mr. Ta Van Son, Director of the Hanoi Fisheries Department, on October 22, the task force at Dong Mo Lake caught softshell turtles. Relevant units weighed, measured and sampled from turtles include: blood sample, tissue sample … sent for genetic testing. Then the turtle was returned to the lake.
Turtles were captured in Dong Mo Lake and samples were taken for genetic analysis. Photo provided by ATP.
Two research centers of the Vietnam Academy of Sciences and the National University of Hanoi analyzed and concluded that the genes of the softshell turtle in Dong Mo Lake belong to the Sinhoe species (Rafetus swinhoei) or also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle. . . It is a female turtle, weighing 86 kg, carapace length 99.5 cm, carapace width 75.5 cm.
The deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Huy Dang, said that although there may be opinions, the results of the investigation from two centers with legal status have confirmed the turtle specimen in Dong Mo Lake. 99% similarity with the Hoan Kiem Lake Turtle.
The Asian Turtle Foundation (IMC) said that there are at least two turtles in Dong Mo Lake because they both discovered the surface of the water at the same time and captured specific images. On December 11, the permanent division of the bottom at Dong Mo Lake took a photo of a softshell turtle, estimated at 130-150 kg. This animal is expected to be sexed in 2021. In the event that this animal is male, the lake sand will be built so that the turtle can reproduce naturally.
Also, a turtle was discovered in Xuan Khanh Lake. It is expected that by 2021, the authorities will catch this turtle to determine species and sex. The conservation units also proposed to expand the search area for softshell turtles in other large lakes in the area such as Suoi Hai, Dong Quan …
Dr. Bui Quang Te was delighted with the results of the genetic analysis which showed that turtles of the same turtle species were found from Hoan Kiem Lake. Image: Vo Hai.
According to the Sinhoe Conservation Plan of the Hanoi People’s Committee, in the period 2021-2025, the city will study the biological characteristics, natural conditions and suitable environment as the basis for the breeding mating proposal; Then there will be projects on the conservation and reproduction of the Hoan Kiem tortoise.
Congratulations to the units “found descendants of Ho Guom turtles”, the fishing expert Bui Quang Te said that the results of the genetic tests of the units with legal status confirmed his comments about not only having a turtle Hoan Kiem is right. In the immediate future, it is necessary to name the individual with the genetically identified and broaden the search because “I am sure that the Mechanical Clock has more than one”.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Department of Aquatic Conservation, Directorate of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that in the immediate future to protect turtles in Dong Mo Lake, the city may establish a protected area. and protect their natural habitat and its reproduction. Representatives from Son Tay City (where Dong Mo Lake is located) and Ba Vi District (Xuan Khanh Lake) pledged to promote propaganda and coordination activities to protect turtles in the lakes in the area.
The Hoan Kiem tortoise (also known as the Swinhoe Prize, Rafetus swinhoei) was first described in 1873, but in fact there has been very little research on this giant softshell tortoise. The Hoan Kiem tortoise still has four children, of which two are in China, one in Dong Mo and one in Xuan Khanh. The only Rafetus swinhoei tortoise that lived in Sword Lake died in January 2016.
Since 2003, the Asian Turtle Program has conducted interview surveys in many areas of 18 northern provinces of Vietnam. This particular turtle has been found in most areas of the Red River Delta. However, they were heavily hunted during the 1970s and 1980s, until the late 1990s.
The Hoan Kiem tortoise recently caught in Dong Mo Lake was first discovered by conservationists from the Asian Turtle Program in 2007. In 2008, during the historic Hanoi flood, it was released from the lake. and caught by fishermen. Thanks to the mobilization of the authorities and conservation circles, the Hoan Kiem turtle was returned to the lake and monitored until today.
Vo hai
