This is the first golden tortoise of Lissemys punctata andersoni species discovered in this country. Previously, in the world, researchers had only recorded 4 similar animals.Kamal Devkota, a reptile expert, said the mutant turtle has deep spiritual significance, cultural and religious values in Nepal. Because to the people of the village, it resembles the embodiment of God Vishnu in Hinduism, so it is very worshiped by devotees.
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| Devotees believe that the animal resembles the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. |
“People here believe that the god Vishnu takes the form of a turtle to save the universe from destruction. In Hinduism, the upper shell of the turtle represents the sky, and the lower shell represents the earth.” , Mr. Devkota said.
It is known that the turtle incarnation of Vishnu, named Kurma, is now worshiped in a number of temples in India.
According to this expert, this is the first time he has witnessed a turtle with such a strange color.
After the review process, the turtle was finally released into the wild, although having such a genetic mutation would make it more difficult for the animal to survive than its fellow species. However, they are very valuable when traded as pets.
