Legendary Mythical Turtle Found in northern Vietnam Options

[Antibiotic]

What do you think?

Cleveland zoo researchers find rare giant turtle in Vietnam

CLEVELAND - Researchers from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo have discovered a rare giant turtle in northern Vietnam — a find that carries great scientific and cultural significance. Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle was previously thought to be extinct in the wild. Three other turtles of the species are in captivity, said experts from the Zoo's Asian turtle program.

There have been rumors for years of a mythical creature living deep in the waters of a northern Vietnam lake. Some in a village west of Hanoi claimed to be blessed by catching a glimpse of it's concave shell as it crested above the surface of their lake.

A national legend tells of a giant golden turtle that bestowed upon the Vietnamese people a magic sword and victory over Chinese invaders in the 16th century. Whether that sacred turtle has materialized in the 21st century will be a matter of cultural debate among the Vietnamese.

"This is one of those mythical species that people always talked about but no one ever saw," said Geoff Hall, zoo general curator.

Of the other three Swinhoe's soft-shell turtles in captivity, two are in Chinese zoos and the other is cared for in the Hoan Kiem ("Returned Sword") Lake in downtown Hanoi — the lake in which the legendary turtle appeared to reclaim the sword from the emperor.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo began its effort to preserve and protect Asian turtles in 2003 amid reports of increased killings for food or to make traditional medicine from their bones. Development and pollution also led to loss of nesting habitats along rivers, zoo officials said.

Hendrie's team and Scientists from Education for Nature-Vietnam had searched lakes and wetlands along the Red River for three years before hearing about the creature living outside Hanoi.

The turtle remains in the lake and researchers have notified the Vietnamese government of its existence, Hendrie said.
http://www.cleveland.com

This post has been edited by Antibiotic: Apr 16 2008, 10:32 PM

[Tav6]

so the legend is true

do you have any pictures of the turtle

This post has been edited by Tav6: Apr 16 2008, 10:36 PM

[Antibiotic]

so the legend is true

Hey Tav6, so you said. I wonder what others have to say though. In another thread, PreyDominator does not believe in the Vietnamese legend of hatching from eggs and stuff. So the imagination goes on...

Whether that sacred turtle has materialized in the 21st century will be a matter of cultural debate among the Vietnamese.

[ToNguyenTrungNam]

hmm interesting...I no english very good but i think it good legend...

This post has been edited by ToNguyenTrungNam: Apr 16 2008, 10:52 PM

[Kaosq]

Than Kim Qui!

This post has been edited by Kaosq: Apr 16 2008, 11:00 PM

[Antibiotic]

hmm interesting...I no english very good but i think it good legend...

Indeed, it is a good legend: "A national legend tells of a giant golden turtle that bestowed upon the Vietnamese people a magic sword and victory over Chinese invaders in the 16th century."

[vietnam]

Than Kim Quy!

LOL Come one Kao, I do believe in such legend of Than Kim Quy........make me feel good being a Vietnamese. Any one got a picture of this turttle???!

[DanSmith]

LOL Come one Kao, I do believe in such legend of Than Kim Quy........make me feel good being a Vietnamese. Any one got a picture of this turttle???!

VietCong killed and ate the turtle!

[asean.asia]

Look in the mirror.

Any one got a picture of this turttle???!

[asean.asia]

Which eye did you see it with, so I can poke that eye out.

VietCong killed and ate the turtle!

[Kaosq]

Indeed, it is a good legend: "A national legend tells of a giant golden turtle that bestowed upon the Vietnamese people a magic sword and victory over Chinese invaders in the 16th century."

It's actually during the 15th century.

"In the 15th century, a general named Lê Lợi obtained a magical sword that a fisherman had pulled out of the lake. Lê Lợi used this sword to lead a rebellion against the Chinese armies that were in occupation of Vietnam. After establishing Vietnam's independence the now King Lê Lợi returned to the lake and Kim Qui caught the sword in his teeth and submerged. Lê Lợi then named the lake 'Lake of Restored Sword', or Hoan Kiem.[6]"

Source: Wikipedia =p

This post has been edited by Kaosq: Apr 16 2008, 11:10 PM

[gosutron]

source http://www.physorg.com/news127584884.html

[vietnam]

VietCong killed and ate the turtle!

Noooooooo, I have not seen it yet!!!!

[vietnam]

Look in the mirror.

It's hurt being called a f@g, isn't it????!

[asean.asia]

It's a pleasure fagging you. No one else, but you.

It's hurt being called a f@g, isn't it????!

This post has been edited by asean.asia: Apr 16 2008, 11:19 PM

[Kaosq]

source http://www.physorg.com/news127584884.html

That's one fat@ss turtle!

[Tav6]

i thought it would be bigger ..

[DanSmith]

^^That's a chinese turtle! its a fraud!

The VietCong killed and ated the real thing!

[vietnam]

It's a pleasure fagging you. No one else, but you.

I'm so honored......go f**k yourself, commie!!!

[Kaosq]

i thought it would be bigger ..

All the bigger turtles have been "lam thit nhau"..... jk!