During recent years, a lot of fascinating discoveries have occurred in Vietnam and now scientists from the Cleveland Zoo claim to have discovered a Swinhoe’s giant turtle living in a lake in the northern parts of the country. According to an article from the BBC, the team from Cleveland spent three years looking for the Swinhoe’s giant turtle. The amazing thing about this discovery is that only three specimens of this species were believed to exist and they all lived in zoos. Hopefully, the Swinhoe’s giant turtle found in Vietnam is not the only specimen alive and kicking in the remote areas of South-East Asia.

You can read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7352719.stm

Swinhoe’s giant turtle (Rafetus swinhoei ), also known as Swinhoe’s Soft-shell turtle, can exceed 100 cm (3.3 feet) in length a weigh up to 120-140 kg (265-309 pounds). Its native habitat is found in southern China and northern Vietnam, where its carapace and bones are important ingredients in traditional remedies. The turtle has also been hunted for local consumption. During the 20^th century, mining of sand and alterations of rivers destroyed a lot of its nesting areas. According to local fishermen, Swinhoe’s giant turtle release their eggs during the night or in the early morning hours. If you want to learn more about Swinhoe’s giant turtle, you can visit the Asian Turtle Conservation Network: http://asianturtlenetwork.org./field_guide/Rafetus_swinhoei.htm.