Hanoi authorities have decided to bring the ancient turtle in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake ashore for treatment, at a meeting on February 25.

This would be the first-ever attempt to haul the animal ashore to cure its injuries sustained from locals’ poaching, hooks, and red-eared turtles also living in the lake.

According to Le Xuan Rao, vice chief of the Emergency Committee on Saving the Turtle that was set up last week, sand will be poured onto the tower in the middle of the lake and the animal will be put here in a tank for treatment. The sand would act as a cushion to protect the injured turtle.

Rao said that though underwater treatment or improving the water environment would minimize the harmful factors but scientists also need to take his DNA to find out the roots of his diseases. He said that uninformed treatment may do more harm than good.

Rao emphasized that scientists must ensure to not make any mistakes because the ancient turtle is important to Vietnamese spiritual culture.

The turtle will be treated for between two months to two years. Foreign experts will be involved in the process.

Hanoi will also clean up pipes, water, and dredge sediments to improve the water environment in the lake, as pollution is said to exacerbate the animal’s injuries.

The Hanoi Department of Science and Technology has proposed two methods to bring the turtle ashore, including using automatic trap or net. Using a net is more likely to be approved.

The idea to use a motorboat or a helicopter to bring the turtle ashore is most likely to be rejected.

PV