While the entire country is busy to prepare for Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary, the ancient turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake, the country’s spiritual symbol, is living with fish-hooks and many wounds.

While the entire country is busy to prepare for Hanoi’s 1000^th anniversary, the ancient turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake, the country’s spiritual symbol, is living with fish-hooks and many wounds.

The legendary turtle with many wounds on his shell …

According to Tien Phong newspaper, the turtle was injured by fish-hooks from illegal fishers. A photo taken on August 1, 2010 showed things that looked like fish-hooks embedded on his shell. These hooks are believed to have been there for at least five months.

On March 12, a member of a social network described an attack against the legendary turtle and provided a video clip. According to this member, the turtle rose to the surface and a young man attacked it with fish-hooks.

The member didn’t know whether the fish-hooks hit the turtle or not but the fishing-line went taut and was broken. The man ran away when he saw he was being filmed. The video clip only featured a young man rolling a broken fishing-line.

Ass. Prof. Ha Dinh Duc, who is called the top legendary turtle expert, lamented that attacks against the ancient turtle have happened for years. The turtle has suffered a lot of wounds, which are clear in photos taken in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005 and 2007

Duc sent several letters to former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet in 1997 and 1998 reporting the wounds of the legendary turtle and asking for protective measures.

… and also fish-hooks.

Tien Phong reporters interviewed the Hoan Kiem Lake guards on September 3. Some said they didn’t know about this and had never witnessed any attacks against the turtle. There are 50 guards at Hoan Kiem Lake, who work in three shifts. However, they also have to guard the Ly Thai To garden across the street.

Ass. Prof. Duc called upon authorities to take emergency measures to protect the turtle. The priority is removing the fish-hooks from his shell.

Duc remarked, “Whenever I discovered his wounds, I always reported to the city’s authorities. But this time the city is busily preparing for the great anniversary, so . . .”

PV