A species of turtle thought to be extinct has been spotted in Vietnam.
Researchers from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo have spent more than three years looking for the rare Swinhoe's giant turtle species, but eventually chanced upon a spotting in a northern Vietnam lake.
Student travel animal lovers will no doubt be flocking to the east Asian country in a bid to catch further glimpses of the elusive Swinhoe's turtles, which can live to 100 and can grow up to one meter in length.
"This species has legendary status among the people of Vietnam, so this is perhaps an opportunity for the legend to live on," claimed Doug Hendrie of the zoo's Asian Turtle Program.
He continued: "This is an incredibly important discovery because the Swinhoe's turtle is one of the most critically endangered species of turtle in the world."
It is thought that the legendary creature had become virtually extinct through a combination of pollution and hunters that killed them for food.
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