Experts from the Asian Turtle Conservation Network have found a living specimen of the rare giant soft-shell turtle Rafetus Swinhoei species in the wild in northern Vietnam.

The Rafetus individual was found to live in a water area to the west of Hanoi after experts searching lakes and wetland areas along the Red River for almost three years.

One of Asia’s largest soft-shell turtle species, Rafetus Swindoei is threatened with extinction.

Earlier, only three living specimens of Rafetus were found in the world, with one in Hoan Kiem lake in the heart of Hanoi, and two others in zoos in China.