It was thought that there was only one surviving Swinhoe’s softshell turtle on earth before a female was recently found in Vietnam. Now, conservationists in Asia are hoping for babies in the world’s most endangered turtle species.

The female was discovered in the 1,400-hectare (3,459 acre) Dong Mo Lake in October, weighing a hefty 86 kilos (189 pounds). The last remaining male turtle lives in a zoo in Suzhou, China, and after DNA tests confirmed the discovered female was indeed a member of the same species, experts revealed that they would be given a chance to breed.

This species of turtle, which is also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle or Yangtze giant softshell, was driven to the literal brink of extinction by overhunting for its meat and eggs. The creature that had been thought to be the last surviving female died in captivity back in April 2019 during a breeding program that failed to produce offspring.

Researchers could not be more excited about the discovery of the female Swinhoe’s softshell turtle.

“In a year full of bad news and sadness across the globe, the discovery of this female can offer all some hope that this species will be given another chance to survive,” said Wildlife Conservation Society Vietnam Country Director Hoang Bich Thuy. “In Vietnam, with the leadership of the government, we are determined to take responsibility to give this species another chance.”

“This is the best news of the year, and quite possibly the last decade, for global turtle conservation,” added Andrew Walde, Chief Operating Officer of the Turtle Survival Alliance, a technical advisor on this project. “As the most endangered turtle on Earth, a tremendous amount of energy and resources have been dedicated to the preservation of the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle.”

Officials believe that there is one other surviving Swinhoe’s softshell turtle living in Dong Mo Lake, and perhaps another based on recent sightings in the nearby Xuan Khanh Lake. Conservationists are already planning to make a search of the two lakes for the supposed turtles later this year, when the water level is at its lowest.

“This is a very important mission and it needs to be done effectively. We have been seeking advice and consultation from the Hanoi People’s Committee to promulgate guiding documents and to collaborate with international organizations to execute our development and conservation plan of rafetus swinhoei,” said Nguyen Huy Dang, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Hanoi Department of Fisheries has been assigned to continue implementing the Plan #200 from the Hanoi People’s Committee to revive and preserve the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle, a rare, precious and endangered species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List.”