The ancient turtle at Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake is anticipated to be brought
ashore for treatment this weekend and the treatment may take two years, said
Hanoi Department of Science and Technology’s chief Le Xuan Rao on March 7.

Rao informed a meeting of the Hanoi Committee authorities on
March 7 the detailed plan on catching and treating the giant turtle. He said
the turtle would be caught with a net.

“The net is designed to ensure safety for both rescue
workers and the turtle,” Rao said.

After treatment, the ancient turtle will convalesce for two
months to two years, he added.

To prepare for the treatment, Hanoi has dredged the mud and sediment,
trapped red-eared turtles, and floated aquatic rafts on the lake.

Rao also explained why the plan to take the giant turtle
ashore were postponed several times. “Relevant agencies needed time to prepare
for every circumstance that can occur during the catching process,” he said and
added that two divers were hired to help bring the turtle ashore.

He also said that the sex of the turtle will be determined
after a test.

The treatment process for the ailing turtle include nine
steps:

1/ Preparing necessary technical conditions

2/ Bringing the turtle ashore

3/ Putting him into a special tank

4/ Collecting samples for testing to seek disease-causing
agents, to define the turtle’s sex and DNA for further research

5/ Curing wounds

6/ Analyzing disease-causing agents and working out
treatment steps

7/ Defining medicines and doses

8/ After treating by medicines, the turtle will be in
special care for 2 months to 2 years

9/ Putting him back to the lake after the water environment
is cleaned

On March 7, the turtle surfaced again in the afternoon.
After 20 minutes floating, the animal headed toward the Turtle Tower.
According to locals, the turtle’s health is getting worse, and it often crawl
into the tower for relaxation and clean air.

On March 6, Hanoi authorities
performed worship rituals at the Ngoc Son Temple
on the Hoan Kiem Lake
before implementing measures to catch the turtle for treatment.

A rescue team including 25 workers and two divers will
practice bringing the turtle to the Turtle
Tower in the middle of Hoan Kiem
Lake for treatment.

PV