Professor Turtle: 25 Years Protecting Hanoi's Legendary Pet
A zoologist spent a quarter century caring for the last giant turtle living in Hanoi's most sacred lake, keeping an ancient legend alive. His devotion protected both a rare creature and the soul of a city.
One spring day in 1991, zoologist Hà Đình Đức walked past a small lake in central Hanoi and spotted something extraordinary: a giant softshell turtle breaking the surface of Hồ Gươm. He went home, marked the date on his calendar, and said later that he felt hypnotized by an invisible bond with the creature.
That chance encounter changed everything. For the next 25 years, Đức photographed the turtle, tracked its appearances, and fiercely guarded its health.
Hanoians knew him as "Professor Turtle" or "Đức Rùa." He became the guardian of one of the world's rarest animals, but his mission went deeper than conservation.
The turtle lived in the Lake of the Returned Sword, named for a 15th century legend. According to the story, a golden turtle surfaced in these waters to reclaim a magical sword that helped drive invaders from Vietnam. For Đức, the survival of a real giant turtle in that same lake made the ancient tale feel alive and real. He called the animal the lake's soul.
When officials proposed dredging the lake or building nearby, Đức objected if he thought they hadn't considered the turtle. He insisted scientists had a responsibility to ask what might happen to the creature before any work began.
He traveled across Vietnam searching for other giant softshells, hoping their descendants might preserve the connection between turtle and legend for future generations. Very few of these enormous freshwater turtles survived anywhere, and little was known about them.
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In 2011, the elderly turtle developed lesions and needed medical treatment. Đức spent nearly every day at the lake during the rescue effort, keeping watch over his old friend.
The turtle died in 2016, but Đức didn't stop. He continued speaking out about development around Hồ Gươm and kept searching for other giant softshells across Vietnam.
Hà Đình Đức died in Hanoi on August 7, 2024, at age 86. He showed a whole city that protecting one creature could mean protecting a piece of their heritage, proving that caring for the natural world and honoring cultural memory can be the same sacred work.
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Based on reporting by Mongabay
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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