At Oceanarium in Zamboanguita, Negros or Endangered Hawksbill turtle dies in captivity

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – An adult Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), one of the endangered sea turtle species in the world, died Sunday of a still unknown cause at its captive breeding site in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

Environmentalists Steve de Neef and Christina Pajang of the Large Marine Verterbrates (LAMAVE) Project in the Philippines under the non-government organization, Physalus, confirmed the death of the Hawksbill turtle.

According to de Neef, he was informed Sunday that the turtle, which fell ill last week, finally succumbed to a still undetermined disease. It was on medication since Wednesday when Pajang went over to the Oceanarium in Zamboanguita to administer the first dose of anti-biotics.

Pajang said she taught the caretaker of the Oceanarium how to give the succeeding daily shots for the eight-day regimen.  The turtle was also given injectable fluids (saline chloride) as well as the injectable anti-biotics.

The caretaker reported on Thursday to Pajang that the turtle exhibited signs of being better. Previously, the turtle was already weak and had refused to eat after the last change of water in the swimming tank where all the turtles in captivity are being kept.

On Sunday, just as the caretaker was about to give the sick Hturtle its fifth dose of anti-biotics, it was discovered limp and motionless and seemed to be dead, Pajang said.

Efforts to contact authorities on Sunday, including Community Environment and Natural Resources Office II (CENRO II) chief Mario Aragon for a necropsy and proper disposal of the dead sea turtle were futile.

It was not immediately known whether the carcass of the dead turtle was disposed of properly. Pajang said on Monday that Aragon had promised to send personnel over to supervise the disposal of the dead reptile.

De Neef, who also works as a freelance writer/photographer/videographer for National Geographic, noted the need for a more concrete network to address concerns like this, hopefully, to prevent a repeat of Sunday’s incident.

Pajang said she believes that as a permit holder for captive breeding of the turtles, the Oceanarium’s staff should have the technical expertise to care for the reptiles, feed them and ensure their health and welfare.

A few months back, the status of the endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles in captive breeding at the Oceanarium made it to the news after environmentalists noted the grim living conditions they were in.

The turtles were cramped in a small swimming tank that had grown moss and people who came to look at them were documented to be touching them and even stepping on their shells for a photo shoot.

After the attention of CENRO II and Mayor Kit Mark Adanza were called, efforts to ease the turtles’ living conditions had improved, with a bigger holding tank and food being subsidized.

Aragon could not be reached for comment at press time while it was not immediately known how and where the dead Hawksbill was disposed of. (FREEMAN)