Is it a bird? Is it a boat? No, its the head of one of the last two known wild Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtles (Rafetus swinhoei), photographed by Dien Van Bui, ATP/IMC’s local staff, at Xuan Khanh Lake in northern Vietnam!
This photo is incredible because it is one of the best photos taken so far of this turtle, which was confirmed using eDNA in 2018, and demonstrates the patience of Dien who spends long hours by this lake.
Monitoring the two turtles in these lakes west of Hanoi City is vital to protecting them and understanding more about their ecology; this information is needed for us to prevent their extinction.
For more information about this species, please visit www.asianturtleprogram.org.
To support our conservation activities, please consider donating to us by visiting www.asianturtleprogram.org/pages/support_atp.html
Photo credit: Dien Van Bui (ATP/IMC)
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