(Dantri) - Hanoi is taking measures to counter red-ear turtles which are threatening the legendary soft shell turtle living in Hoan Kiem Lake.Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, has just approved the measures proposed by the city’s Department of Science and Technology.
Initially, the city will catch red-ear turtles, one of the most dangerous invasive species in the world, by using cages put under water, floating rafts and nets.
In addition, the city will disseminate information about negative impacts of red-ear turtles for the lake’s ecosystem, ban all activities of red-turtle trading, storage and transport while exploring areas in which this kind of animal can lay eggs.
A taskforce, including representatives from the Department of Information and Technology, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and several other agencies will be set up eliminate red-ear turtles.
Despite being approved, these solutions will be carried out after the Lunar New Year because they need to be exercised with great caution, according to a representative from the Department of Science and Technology.
Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoe, Head of the Central Public Debate under the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, said the top measure is prohibiting people from releasing red-ear turtles into the lake. He added that the solutions are suitable but can also be a risk for the legendary turtle.
Nguyen Minh Tuan, head of the Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem) management board, said that the massive infiltration of red ear turtles in the lake began in 2009.
Professor Ha Dinh Duc, an expert on this species, said that after eating the algae in the lake, red-ear turtles will attack the legendary turtle when they find it difficult to seek food, causing serious injury.
He also warned that in years to come, these turtles could devour all the algae in the lake and even all the plant life. He also believed that this destructive species of turtles was increasing in numbers and would soon overtake all existing living creatures in the lake.
The legendary turtle is very important in Vietnamese culture. It is reclusive and rare and considered holy because of a 15th-century legend that claims King Le Loi drove out invading Chinese with a magical sword, which the gods gave him and which he later returned by giving it to the lake's turtle, which swam it back to the gods.
