A sacred giant turtle venerated as a symbol of Vietnam’s independence struggle has died, state media said, prompting an outpouring of grief and fears the death bodes ill for an upcoming communist leadership handover. The reptile, a critically endangered Swinhoe softshell turtle, occupies a key mythological role in Vietnam — in the past, the turtle generally surfaced only rarely, with its sightings deemed auspicious.

Vietnam's beloved sacred turtle dies- state media. (2016, January 21). Business World, p. S1/9.