HANOI, Vietnam, April 4 (UPI) -- A giant turtle in a lake in Vietnam was captured so it could be treated for wounds believed to have been inflicted by illegal fishing, officials said.
Wildlife veterinarians were able to herd the turtle onto an island in Hoan Kiem Lake and capture it in a net enclosure, Vietnam News reported Monday.
The turtle, believed to weigh more than 400 pounds, had escaped previous attempts to capture it.
The turtle, suffering from injuries and also believed to be affected by high levels of pollution in the lake, was treated in a tank of filtered water on the island.
Experts planned to examine the turtle further during the next several days, veterinarian Nguyen Huy Dang said, and would carry out biopsies and DNA tests.
Officials said efforts would be made to clean up pollution in the lake before the turtle is returned to the water.
