hanoi's famous hoan kiem turtle is captured to receive ... · hanoi's famous hoan kiem...

L.A. Unleashed ALL THINGS ANIMAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem turtle is captured to receive veterinary care April 5, 2011 | 8:03 pm HANOI, Vietnam — Veterinarians examined a rare giant turtle considered sacred by many Vietnamese at a makeshift hospital in Hanoi on Monday to check mysterious lesions afflicting one of the last four known members of its species. The giant soft-shell turtle, which has a shell the size of a desk and is estimated to weigh about 440 pounds, was pulled from a lake in the heart of the capital Sunday. Tests were being run to try to pinpoint what is ailing the creature, said Tim McCormack, program coordinator of the Asian Turtle Program. He said photos taken of it in a holding tank showed injuries on its legs and elsewhere, but it was not yet clear how serious they are. The animal is believed to be about 80 to 100 years old, though many Vietnamese believe it is the same mythical creature said to have helped King Le Loi fend off the Chinese nearly six centuries ago. It took 50 workers two hours Sunday to net the turtle, put it in a cage and pull it to a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake that was recently expanded and equipped with the small holding tank, known as the "turtle hospital." LOCAL Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem turtle is captured to receive veterina... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2011/04/hanoi-turtle-... 1 of 2 11/13/11 7:32 PM

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Page 1: Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem turtle is captured to receive ... · Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem turtle is captured to receive veterinary care April 5, 2011 | 8:03 pm HANOI, Vietnam — Veterinarians

L.A. UnleashedALL THINGS ANIMAL IN SOUTHERNCALIFORNIA AND BEYOND

Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem turtle is captured to receive veterinary careApril 5, 2011 | 8:03 pm

HANOI, Vietnam — Veterinarians examined a rare giant turtle considered sacred by many Vietnamese at a makeshift hospital in Hanoi on Monday to check

mysterious lesions afflicting one of the last four known members of its species.

The giant soft-shell turtle, which has a shell the size of a desk and is estimated to weigh about 440 pounds, was pulled from a lake in the heart of the

capital Sunday.

Tests were being run to try to pinpoint what is ailing the creature, said Tim McCormack, program coordinator of the Asian Turtle Program. He said photos

taken of it in a holding tank showed injuries on its legs and elsewhere, but it was not yet clear how serious they are.

The animal is believed to be about 80 to 100 years old, though many Vietnamese believe it is the same mythical creature said to have helped King Le Loi fend

off the Chinese nearly six centuries ago.

It took 50 workers two hours Sunday to net the turtle, put it in a cage and pull it to a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake that was recently expanded and equipped

with the small holding tank, known as the "turtle hospital."

LOCAL

Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem turtle is captured to receive veterina... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2011/04/hanoi-turtle-...

1 of 2 11/13/11 7:32 PM