Health check for symbolic turtle

A giant soft-shell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), which is considered a sacred symbol of Vietnamese independence, is guided into a cage for a health check by handlers at Hoan Kiem lake in the heart of Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 3, 2011. Legend has it that the turtle is the guardian of a magical sword once used in the 15th century to drive out Chinese invaders. Thousands of onlookers cheered when rescuers captured the ailing and ancient giant turtle for treatment