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'Mythical' Giant Turtle Found in Vietnam

Animal, thought to be extinct, is the stuff of legend

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(Newser) – A giant turtle thought to be extinct has been found in northern Vietnam, the AP reports. Scientists from the Cleveland Zoo discovered the Swinhoe's soft-shelled turtle when they followed up reports from villagers of a mythical creature living in a lake. Vietnamese legend tells of a huge turtle that helped the country fight off Chinese invaders in the 16th century.

"This is one of those mythical species that people always talked about but no one ever saw," said the zoo's curator.

This 2004 photo provided by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shows a rare Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam.
This 2004 photo provided by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shows a rare Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam.   (AP Photo/Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)
This 1993 file photograph shows the Hoan Kiem turtle in Hanoi, Vietnam.
This 1993 file photograph shows the Hoan Kiem turtle in Hanoi, Vietnam.   (KRT Photos)
Performers re-enact historical scenes linked to the Vietnamese defeat of Chinese invaders in the 16th century.
Performers re-enact historical scenes linked to the Vietnamese defeat of Chinese invaders in the 16th century.   (Getty Images)
This undated photo provided by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shows a captive Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle from Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam.
This undated photo provided by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shows a captive Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle from Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam.   (AP Photo/Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)
In this June 27, 2007 photo provided by the Cleveland Matroparks Zoo, a rare Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle surfaces in a lake in northern Vietnam.
In this June 27, 2007 photo provided by the Cleveland Matroparks Zoo, a rare Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle surfaces in a lake in northern Vietnam.   (AP Photo/Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)
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endangered species • Vietnam • zoo • amphibians • turtle

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