Hopes for most endangered turtle after discovery of female in Vietnam lake Damian Carrington Environment editor
The last known male giant Swinhoe’s softshell turtle is no longer alone on the planet after the discovery of a female of his species in Vietnam.
The female 86kg (13 stone) turtle was found in Dong Mo lake, in Hanoi’s Son Tay district, and captured for genetic testing in October.
DNA tests have nowconfirmed the animal is a Swinhoe’s softshell turtle, (
Rafetus swinhoei), the most endangered turtle in the world.
Another turtle estimated to weigh 130kg was sighted in the lake, and conservationists hope that this could be another male.
World’s most endangered turtle finds new hope in Vietnam
Tuesday, 2020-12-22 17:26:01
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NDO – Scientists have released genetic results confirming a female turtle captured in October 2020 in Vietnam is definitively the near-extinct Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) – also known as the Hoan Kiem Turtle, raising hopes for the conservation of the world’s rarest turtle in Vietnam.
The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have made dramatic progress to possibly prevent the extinction of the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle.
WCS Viet Nam
- Scientists release genetic results confirming a female turtle captured in October 2020 in Viet Nam is definitively the near extinct Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) – also known as the Yangtze giant softshell turtle and Hoan Kiem turtle.
- Discovery means at least one male and one female are now known to exist
- Viet Nam Government leading this effort to prevent extinction of the Swinhoe’s softshell turtle, along with ATP/IMC, WCS and other partners
HA NOI, Viet Nam (December 18, 2020) The Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have made dramatic progress to possibly prevent the extinction of Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (
Scientists find turtle they hope can save species from extinction
20 Dec 202020 December 2020
Last updated at 07:10
WATCH: Learn more about the Swinhoe s softshell turtles
Conservationists have new hopes of saving extremely rare turtle species from the brink of extinction after discovering there are at least one male and female still alive.
There are thought to be only four Swinhoe s softshell turtles left in the world, but they hope to be able to raise the numbers through a breeding programme.
Scientists hadn t been sure if the latest turtle they had found was male or female, but it s now been revealed to be female - meaning it can mate with a male Swinhoe s softshell turtle in Suzhou Zoo in China.