SAN JOSE, Antique – In the coastal barangay of Dalipe here, 77 green sea turtle hatchlings were released to the sea on Oct. 1.
Weeks ago, residents discovered turtle eggs buried in the village’s coastal sands and decided to protect them and let them hatch. They also alerted the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).
Mayor Elmer Untaran cited the barangay residents for protecting the turtles.
Daad maghatag dya awareness sa aton kasimanwa nga amligan ang mga endangered species naton,” he said.
Just this Aug. 29, the MENRO release 70 turtle hatchlings in the same barangay.
Untaran said Barangay Dalipe appears to have become a “sea turtles sanctuary”.
He encouraged the village residents to continue their practice of protecting turtle eggs and allow them to hatch.
“Kon may makita sanda nga mga itlog ukon baby turtles, i-report nila sa MENRO naton,” said Untaran.
Sea turtles can be found in all oceans except for the polar regions. They migrate to reach their spawning beaches, which are limited in numbers. Living in the ocean therefore means they usually migrate over large distances.
There are seven existing species of sea turtles in the world: green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, flatback sea turtle, and leatherback sea turtle.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, human activity on all beaches has virtually ceased, resulting in an increase in sea turtle nesting./PN
