The results of the genetic evaluation of the Hoan Kiem tortoise are being carried out by Vietnamese scientists to send them to the World Gene Bank.
“The Biotechnology Institute verified the results for the tortoise Hoan Kiem. This result will be sent by Vietnamese scientists to World Genebank, located in Switzerland, to give the most accurate results,” said Dr Bui Quang Te, team leader of Hoan Kiem diagnosis and treatment of lake turtles.
According to Dr. Te, this process will be done in parallel with the pairing of genetic samples from two Chinese turtles – considered to be the same species as the sword turtle.
“Usually it takes 3 years, or 10 years, for World Genebank to announce results. But with Tortoise, it is expected to be 6 months,” Mr. Te said.
Based on the appearance, Mr. Te said that the great possibility of the Hoan Kiem Lake Turtle is “old lady”. Mr Te also added that according to the initial judgment of the turtle genetic samples found in Vietnam, the processed Hoan Kiem Lake turtle is a new species from Vietnam, and not the same species as the Dong Mo turtle. Shanghai.
Regarding the health of the turtle, Mr. Te said that, theoretically in about 10 days, the treatment will be finished and will bring the turtle back to the lake. But getting Turtle back into the environment depends on whether or not the lake water is cleaned up.
“It will be very dangerous to let the turtles live a long time on land, because the turtles will be quickly tamed, used to being taken care of by humans every day. Natural survival skills will be gradually lost,” Te noted.
