Obituary of PGS.TS Hà Đình Đức
Background
PGS.TS Hà Đình Đức, known as the “turtle scholar,” passed away at the age of 86 on August 7. He was born in 1940 in Xuân Thành, Thanh Hóa province, and worked as a lecturer at the Faculty of Biology, Hanoi University.
Research Contributions
He dedicated many years to studying the Hoàn Kiếm turtle and protecting the ecosystem of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. His interest in the Hoàn Kiếm turtle began in 1991 when he encountered a giant turtle at the lake. He conducted extensive observations, documentation, and research on the species’ behavior, habitat, and history.
Publications
Hà Đình Đức authored six national research projects on Hoàn Kiếm and wrote 200 articles about the Hoàn Kiếm turtle. His work provided significant scientific data about the turtle and raised public awareness regarding the conservation of this rare species.
Environmental Advocacy
He frequently highlighted threats to the Hoàn Kiếm ecosystem, such as water pollution, declining habitat quality, and urbanization impacts. He proposed initiatives like the “km 0” milestone at Hoàn Kiếm Lake and suggested various cultural projects, including memorials and festivals.
Recognition
In 2012, he was honored as an Outstanding Citizen of Hanoi by the Hanoi Council of Emulation and Reward.
