Made exclusively in Germany, the glass cabinet for the final turtle specimen of Hoan Kiem Lake is made of super white glass, capable of filtering pollen and mold spores.
Photo: Dan Tri.
Tomorrow morning, the turtle specimen will be handed over to the Hanoi People’s Committee after more than 3 years of preservation and processing. From today, the specimen has been displayed at Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem District, in a glass cabinet custom-made in Germany.
As revealed by Prof. Dr. Phan Ke Long, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Museum of Nature, the glass cabinet containing the turtle specimen is made of super white glass. This is very expensive glass that Vietnam does not have, used for bulletproof vehicles. Tempered glass, with UV protection, anti-reflective. According to Assoc. Dr. Long, thanks to the type of glass that gives the observer the most realistic image of the specimen. When the viewer wants to take a photo, the light will not be reflected, reflecting the image of the photographer on the glass.
In addition to ultra-modern glass materials, the cabinet for placing turtle specimens also has a dehumidification system with the ability to filter pollen spores, mold spores, and prevent risks that may affect the specimen. The top of the cabinet is a cold laser array, which does not affect the specimen and can be moved flexibly. The cabinet has dimensions of 1.3×2,3×1.95 m, then it is wood paneled by the Hanoi People’s Committee.
According to Assoc. Dr. Long, all the above materials and equipment are intended to help the specimen be preserved in the best conditions and at the same time help viewers admire the specimen to the fullest.
Previously, the turtle was found dead on January 19, 2016 near the area of Le Thai To street and brought to the Vietnam Museum of Nature and preserved in a cold room at -20 degrees Celsius. This is considered an individual. The last Hoan Kiem turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake – the turtle is considered the spiritual symbol of the city.
The Hanoi People’s Committee then decided to preserve the turtle instrument according to the plasticization method – the most advanced and modern method of preserving specimens today with the ability to preserve the specimen in its original form from shape, color, and color. even difficult parts like eyes and frills (made of cartilage). However, Vietnam does not yet have this technology, so the Vietnam Museum of Nature has hired two leading experts from Germany’s Berlin Museum.
Assoc. Dr. Phan Ke Long, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Museum of Nature, said that it was initially expected that the production would take place in one year. However, the sculpting of the turtle was slower than expected because the specimen was too large and was toxic. The turtle has a length of 2.08 meters, a width of 1.08 meters, and a weight of 169kg, the largest specimen preserved so far. “ German experts share, they usually make 20-30kg specimens, but have not made such large soft-shell turtle specimens. This is a very unique specimen ”, Prof. Dr. Long shared.
According to Assoc. Dr. Long, the manufacturing process requires meticulous attention, in which making turtle eyes is the most important and most difficult stage because the eyes represent the soul of the specimen. German experts have to conduct research on the website, measure, look at photos of the turtle when it is alive, look at veins, look at pupils, and eyes so that when done, the eyes will create the desired look. .