Vietnam is mourning an ancient turtle that had been revered as a symbol of auspiciousness and whose death has shocked the country. The giant turtle, known as Cu Rua (Great Grandfather), was venerated as a symbol of Vietnam’s independence and there are fears that his death bodes ill for the forthcoming communist leadership handover. Believed to be one of only four still living, the reptile best known as a Yangtze giant softshell turtle was found floating in the Hanoi lake where he lived. The cause of death is unclear. The turtle, which weighed about 200kg (440lbs), was said to be 80-100 years old. The BBC reports: Some see the death as a bad omen for the ruling Communist Party. Its annual congress begins on Thursday and a change of leadership is expected. The reptile – known as Cu Rua (great-grandfather) – will now be embalmed. “Cu” is the Vietnamese word used to refer to old and revered people, giving some indication of the special place he occupied in the hearts of Hanoi’s inhabitants. And not only Hanoians – people from all over the country also used to come to Hoan Kiem lake in Vietnam’s capital to try to catch a glimpse [...]