Native to eastern and southern China and northern Vietnam, the species has a known population of only two or three individuals, and the absence of fertile females has rendered it functionally extinct.

[6] A study of large turtles from the Yangtze River reported an average weight of 25 kg (55 lb), although not all specimens were definitively identified as Rafetus.

A wild individual in Vietnam was reported dead in January 2016, and the last captive female at the Suzhou Zoo in China died in April 2019 following an artificial insemination attempt.

[11][15] The Yangtze giant softshell turtle primarily feeds on a diet of fish, crabs, snails, frogs, and aquatic vegetation such as water hyacinths and "green rice leaves.

It spends most of its time submerged in deep water and surfaces only briefly to breathe, which complicates efforts to observe or identify wild individuals.

"[25] In 1880, Pierre Marie Heude, a Shanghai-based Jesuit missionary, obtained multiple specimens of the species from the Huangpu River and Lake Tai.

While most herpetologists consider R. leloii a junior synonym of Rafetus swinhoei, some Vietnamese biologists, such as Ha Dinh Duc and Le Tran Binh, argue that it is a distinct species based on genetic and morphological differences.

Critics, including Farkas et al., have attributed these differences to age-related variation and noted that the genetic data used by Le et al. were not submitted to GenBank.

[10] A recent plan to construct a series of 12 hydropower dams along the Red River in China poses a significant risk, as it would flood critical habitats and alter the ecosystem downstream in Vietnam.

[12][13] To improve future breeding outcomes, conservationists have focused on better habitat conditions and dietary adjustments to increase calcium levels, which are believed to influence egg viability.

Surveys in Vietnam's Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh Lakes have identified potential survivors, though their numbers remain critically low.

[31] Conservationists have undertaken extensive efforts to locate wild Yangtze giant softshell turtles in the remote regions of China and Vietnam.

Key areas of focus include parts of the Red River in Yunnan Province, where locals have reported sightings of large softshell turtles that match the species' description.

[32] In 2018, DNA analysis of water samples from Xuan Khanh Lake in Vietnam confirmed the presence of Rafetus swinhoei, marking the identification of a second wild individual.

In 2018, DNA analysis of water samples from Xuan Khanh Lake verified the presence of Rafetus swinhoei, confirming a second wild individual.

[15] In addition to these verified sightings, local fishermen in Yunnan Province have reported observing large softshell turtles in reservoirs created by the Madushan Dam.

During the reign of An Dương Vương (257–207 BCE), Kim Qui reportedly aided the king in constructing defenses for the ancient capital of Co Loa.

According to legend, the Golden Turtle provided the king with a magical crossbow capable of firing arrows en masse to repel invaders.

[18] This legend has cemented the Yangtze giant softshell turtle as a symbol of resilience and cultural heritage in Vietnam, linking it to themes of national unity and divine intervention.