Raftus Swinhoei - Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle

Alright so, BenardCometh Revelations realised that he has strayed away from the core of this blog. To give revelations to all that is. ** Ahem

Anyway, here's a post to satisfy your revelations need.

Raftus Swinhoei aka the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is really a very very rare species of soft shell turtle that  are only found in Vietnam and China. 

Not the type that you always eat but if that continues, the ones you always eat also will be a rare species. Now you know why this Raftus Swinhoei aka Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is nearly extinct. It is found in China for christ sake... You get it? 1.6 billion people?? Hellooo???

Anyway, it is estimated that there are only 4 living Raftus Swinhoei aka Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle alive in the world today. Yes, only 4. Imagine that. 

This turtle can grow up to 200kgs. Damn, that is even heavier than yours truly.

By the way, there is this legend about this type of turtle. 

They call it the legend of Kim Qui aka Golden Turtle or even Golden Turtle God.

Apparently this Kim Qui appeared throughout Vietnam history. Not so much of appearing in Chinese history though. Maybe because if it did appear, it would become dinner. So there.

Lets continue.

So, it was said to help during the reign of King An Dương Vương in the construction of defenses for the ancient capital of Co Loa and even help the King to make a magical cross-bow that somehow magically rain millions of arrows with one single shot. How cool is that?

This Kim Qui appears again during Le Loi time. Now if you dont know Le Loi, he is a peasant who later became hero god emperor of some sort. More or less the story of Zhu Yuan Zhang where a peasant/farmer becomes emperor.

So this Kim Qui, helped Le Loi by giving him a magical sword that helped Le Loi to rebel against Chinese army and establish the Le Dynasty.

After Le Loi done with the establising of dynasty of that sort, he returned the magical sword to the turtle. Heck, if he did not return the magical sword, you might see him walking around today. 

You know the immortality that comes with magical swords don't you?

Don't know?

Then that is another story for another day.

There you have it.

A revelation for ya all.