Vietnam releases scared turtle in good health
In this photo taken Sunday, April 3, 2011, an injured giant softshell turtle is seen after being pulled from Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. Veterinarians examined the rare giant turtle, which has a shell the size of a desk and is estimated to weigh about 440 pounds (200 kilograms), 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. (AP Photo/Na Son Nguyen)
HANOI, Vietnam >> State media say a rare giant turtle considered sacred in Vietnam has been released back into a Hanoi lake.
Online newspaper VnExpress quoted the director of Hanoi’s science and technology department, Le Xuan Rao, as saying the turtle returned to the cleaned-up Hoan Kiem lake Tuesday after being treated for skin lesions.
In April, the turtle was removed from the lake and put into a holding tank for treatment after photos showed injuries on its legs and neck.
The giant female turtle has a shell size of a desk and weighs 370 pounds. It is one of four known living Rafetus swinhoei species.
Many Vietnamese believe it is the same mythical creature said to have helped King Le Loi fend off the Chinese nearly six centuries ago.
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