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 Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:01 am |
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| SilverLupin |
| Redneck Debutante |
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| Joined: 28 Nov 2005 |
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| Location: St. Louis, Missouri |
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Rare giant turtle found in Vietnam
Thu Apr 17, 3:07 PM ET
CLEVELAND - Researchers from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo have discovered a rare giant turtle in northern Vietnam, giving scientists hope for the species they believed was extinct in the wild.
The three other known Swinhoe's soft-shell turtles are in captivity, said experts from the Zoo's Asian turtle program. The discovery represents hope for the species, said Doug Hendrie, the Vietnam-based coordinator of the zoo program.
Turtle expert Peter Pritchard, president of the Chelonian Research Institute, confirmed the find based on a photo Hendrie showed him. The turtle was discovered late last year, probably in December, zoo spokeswoman Sue Allen said Thursday.
"It looked like pretty solid evidence. The animal has a pretty distinctive head," Pritchard said.
The turtle remains in the lake and researchers have notified the Vietnamese government of its existence, Hendrie said.
There have been rumors for years of a mythical creature living deep in the waters of a northern Vietnam lake. Some in a village west of Hanoi claimed to be blessed by catching a glimpse of its concave shell as it crested above the surface of their lake.
A national legend tells of a giant golden turtle that bestowed upon the Vietnamese people a magic sword and victory over Chinese invaders in the 16th century.
"This is one of those mythical species that people always talked about but no one ever saw," said Geoff Hall, zoo general curator.
Of the other three Swinhoe's soft-shell turtles, two are in Chinese zoos and the other is cared for in the Hoan Kiem ("Returned Sword") Lake in downtown Hanoi — the lake in which the legendary turtle appeared to reclaim the sword from the emperor.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo began its effort to preserve and protect Asian turtles in 2003 amid reports of increased killings for food or to make traditional medicine from their bones. Development and pollution also led to loss of nesting habitats along rivers, zoo officials said. |
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'I'll tell you the ultimate secret of magic. Any cunt could do it.'
- John Constantine, (Alan Moore)
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:21 pm |
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| Yaish |
| Intel Chief |
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| Joined: 14 Oct 2005 |
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I love turtles. I hope the species makes it, they've mananged hundreds of millions of years and I'd hate to see them go.
This reminds me, I need to get another pet turtle. |
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... the kilt had concealed a blaster strapped to one thigh and a knife to the other. He was aware of the present gentle customs against personal weapons, but he felt naked without them. Such customs were nonsense anyhow, foolishment from old women - there was no such thing as "dangerous weapons," only dangerous people.
--Robert Heinlein in Methuselah's Children |
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