JORDAN, Guimaras – Turtles are important reptiles in the marine ecosystem. They help maintain healthy sea grass beds and coral reefs that benefit commercial species such as shrimps, lobsters and tunas.
Rescuing marine turtles is conserving biodiversity. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) deems t important for people to report rescued marine turtles and other animals to the authorities.
A female Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was rescued in Sito Lacaran, Barangay Ermita, Dumangas, Iloilo around 9 p.m. of Aug. 12.
The turtle was found by a fisherfolk along the seashore and was immediately reported to the Community ENR Office (CENRO) in Barotac Nuevo town.
The marine animal had a length of 84 cm and width of 63.5 cm. Its estimated weight was 100 kg.
The Green sea turtle was in good condition and tagged with PH 1775M prior to its release back to the wild at the Lapus-lapus Fish Sanctuary in Paloc, Dumangas, Iloilo.
In Barangay Montpiller, Buenavista Guimaras, a Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtle was rescued on Aug. 18.
The staff from the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation / Coastal Unit (PAMBCU) of the Provincial ENR Office (PENRO) in Guimaras assessed and observed the Hawksbill that was accidentally trapped inside the gill net.
The reptile was tagged with PH0965J.
The Green Sea turtle is classified as endangered while the Hawksbill is critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (DENR-6)/PN
