VietNamNet Bridge
– Hanoi authorities on February 28 set up the
Council for Treatment of Hoan
Kiem Lake’s
Turtle, with 13 members, led by veterinary doctor Nguyen Huy Dang.

Doctor Dang is also the deputy director of the Hanoi
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The council is responsible for taking the legendary turtle
to a specialized tank for treatment and carry out the treatment process.

The council is permitted to invite foreign experts to join
the treatment process in necessary circumstances.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Health on February 28
told VietNamNet that the Steering Board for Saving the Turtle asked for his
department’s involvement in the treatment process but the health sector can
only deal with human-related issues, not animals.

However, he confirmed that the department is trying its best
to cooperate with other agencies to act on the plan to save the old turtle.
Tuan said he assigned a doctor of dermatology to collaborate with veterinary
doctors to cure skin diseases for the turtle.

A senior expert from the Central Hospital
for Dermatology said that experts should not treat the turtle’s skin diseases
with medicine for humans. The treatment must be overseen by veterinary doctors
or oceanographic experts.

After the solution to save the turtle was fixed on February
25, Hanoi authorities have begun cleaning up the
Hoan Kiem Lake.
The lake is very dry at this moment.

Hanoi
authorities on February 28 started to take action to save the injured turtle.
Sand bags have been placed around the foot of the Turtle Tower
to serve as a resting spot for the turtle. Scientists would wait for the turtle
to crawl onto this tower to capture and treat its wounds directly there.

The Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Company began to dredge up
the mud and rubbish in the lake, meant to create a favorable habitat for the
animal. Drainage work is expected to complete on March 8. Around 500cu.m of
mud, earth, and stone will be removed from the lake.

NA