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Hanoi - Thousands of people are cramming around a lake in Vietnam's capital to see rescuers pull out a rare turtle for medical treatment.
The giant freshwater turtle has sparked near panic after photos were taken of it surfacing with open sores covering parts of its wrinkled neck and legs. Lesions also were visible on its shell.
The turtle is a famous character in Vietnamese folklore, and many people believe it is magical.
A small island in the lake has been expanded with sandbags to form a platform large enough for the turtle to rest. After it did not emerge on its own, workers waded chest-deep Tuesday in the chilly murky water to try to net the creature and drag it to the island.
Only four such turtles are known to be living worldwide.
The giant freshwater turtle has sparked near panic after photos were taken of it surfacing with open sores covering parts of its wrinkled neck and legs. Lesions also were visible on its shell.
The turtle is a famous character in Vietnamese folklore, and many people believe it is magical.
A small island in the lake has been expanded with sandbags to form a platform large enough for the turtle to rest. After it did not emerge on its own, workers waded chest-deep Tuesday in the chilly murky water to try to net the creature and drag it to the island.
Only four such turtles are known to be living worldwide.
