AKIPRESS.COM - News of the death of Cu Rua, or "Great Grandfather Turtle" in Hanoi, Vietnam has brought widespread grief.

The population of the critically endangered Yangtze giant softshell turtle now stands at three, said National Geographic.

The reptile, a critically endangered swinhoe softshell turtle, occupies a key mythological role in the country – in the past, the turtle surfaced only rarely, with its sightings deemed auspicious.

Some scientists believe it was one of only four of the species – better known as Yangtze giant softshells – in existence. Two are in China; the other lives in a different lake in Hanoi.

The reptile was found dead in Hoan Kiem lake in central Hanoi on Tuesday, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The turtle, which weighed about 200kg (440lbs), was said to be 80-100 years old.