Cleveland zoo researchers find rare giant turtle in Vietnam

Tweet

Researchers from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo have discovered a rare giant turtle in northern Vietnam — a find that carries great scientific and cultural significance. Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle was previously thought to be extinct in the wild. Three other turtles of the species are in captivity, said experts from the Zoo's Asian turtle program. The discovery represents hope for the species, said Doug Hendrie, the Vietnam-based coordinator of the zoo program. Turtle expert Peter Pritchard, president of the Chelonian Research Institute, confirmed the find based on a photo Hendrie showed him. "It looked like pretty solid evidence. The animal has a pretty distinctive head," Pritchard said. For More Story and Picture: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/zoo_rare_turtle