VietNamNet Bridge – Though the capital city authorities have instructed relevant agencies to collect and destroy red-eared turtles, the number of the world’s most dangerous exotic species is growing at the Hoan Kiem Lake.

They are also abundant at the Thien Quang ancient well in Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) – Vietnam’s first university.

It is observed that the turtles often float to the Hoan Kiem lake’s surface at 9am and hang themselves on twigs to stay out in the sun. Many twigs that are near the lake surface are occupied by dozens of turtles. The biggest turtles are around one kilo and the smallest ones are as small as one’s big toe.

Local residents said that every first day or fifteen day of the month, many people bring red-eared turtles to the lake to release. Some people often fish turtles to sell.

Prof., Dr. Ha Dinh Duc, a renowned scholar of Hanoi culture and history, said that he took the first photos of red-eared turtles at the Hoan Kiem Lake in 2004. Some people even took pictures of the dangerous turtles at the lake in 1997.

“I don’t know how many red-eared turtles are living in the lake but the number of exotic turtles has grown drastically. They multiply very quickly like yellow snails, which destroyed a vast area of rice in Vietnam in the past,” Dr. Duc said.

He said the turtles don’t directly harm the legendary ancient turtle in the lake but they compete with him in seeking foods. They also threaten smaller species in the lake.

The Thien Quang ancient well inside Hanoi’s Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) – Vietnam’s first university – also has many red-eared turtles.

The Van Mieu Scientific-Cultural Center’s director Dang Kim Ngoc said that red-eared turtles infiltrated the well in two ways. Firstly, Van Mieu is often flooded in downpours and turtles can get into the well through underground pipes. Some visitors brought turtles to the temple for worshipping and then released them to the well.

Nguyen Minh Tuan, chief manager of Hoan Kiem Lake area, said that to destroy red-eared turtles, it is necessary to have a specific policy and programs to educate people about this dangerous exotic species.

Red-eared turtles at Hoan Kiem Lake:

PV