Hoan Kiem Lake turtle among the world’s 100 most endangered species

VietNamNet Bridge – Five fauna species of Vietnam, including the Hoan Kiem Lake turtle, have been listed in the top 100 endangered species of the world. The report named “100 most seriously threatened species in the world. They are invaluable or worthless?” is the result of more than 8,000 scientists from the International Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The list was published at the World Conservation Congress in Jeju Island, South Korea last month. Vietnam’s species on the list include: saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), Edwards’s pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), Hoan Kiem lake turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), Giant pangasius (Pangasius sanitwongsei) and Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus). In the world, there are only four individuals of Hoan Kiem turtle species, including one living in the Hoan Kiem Lake, one in the Dong Mo Lake, in Hanoi, and the remaining two in China. Recently, for the conservation of this species, scientists took one in the Hoan Kiem Lake ashore for medical treatment and then released it back to the lake. However, experts have not made plans on reproduction. Edwards’s pheasants live in the central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue and they are facing extinction. According to scientists, they are disappearing due to excessive hunting and habitat loss. They called for taking conservation measures to restore living conditions and implement breeding programs. Saola or “Asian unicorn” is one of the species of mammals facing the risk of extinction in Southeast Asia. There are only few individuals of…