BACOLOD City – A female Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) that was accidentally trapped in fishermen’s net was released back into the sea in Barangay Central Tabao, Valladolid Negros Occidental.
The sea turtle locally known as “pawikan” has a length of three feet and width of 28 inches. It weighs about 65 kilograms.
Emma Flores-Arandilla, focal person for solid waste management of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the fishermen were at the “Tangaban Trese” fishing area at 1 a.m. on July 31 when the sea turtle was trapped in their net.
Flores-Arandilla said the fishermen brought the “pawikan” at the coastline and reported the incident to the authorities.
No injuries were found, Flores-Arandilla said, adding that the sea turtle was then released back to the sea./PN
