ANTIQUE – Three green sea turtles stranded in the coastal area of Barangay San Isidro, Tibiao, Antique were rescued.
The green turtle is a large, weighty sea turtle with a wide, smooth carapace, or shell. It inhabits tropical and subtropical coastal waters around the world and has been observed clambering onto land to sunbathe.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Culasi said the Antique Maritime Police Station received a report on this from Jeremie L. Importante on Jan. 20.
Personnel of CENRO–Culasi immediately checked the turtles’ health condition.
Barnacles (highly specialized crustaceans) were present in the plastron and carapace of the three marine turtles.
These were carefully removed with a knife so as not to cause damage or harm to the species.
The curved carapace length (CCL) and curved carapace width (CCW) were individually measured.
The green sea turtle is named not for the color of its shell, which is normally brown or olive depending on its habitat, but for the greenish color of its skin.
Before being released, two marine turtles were tagged 1753B and 1755B, respectively.
The third one was not tagged since it has not reached 45 cm, which is the standard length for tagging marine turtles.
Green turtles are listed as an endangered species. Despite this, they are still killed for their meat and eggs. Their numbers are also reduced by boat propeller accidents, fishnet-caused drowning, and the destruction of their nesting grounds by human encroachment. (With a report from DENR–CENRO CULASI)/PN
