2 turtles freed back into the wild

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Two sea turtles were released back to the sea in Northern Samar’s Bobon town, according to a report released yesterday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-8 based here.

DENR-8 Director Leonardo Sibbaluca told The FREEMAN that its field office in Northern Samar released the two   green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) yesterday morning.

Sibbaluca said that based on the report from Provincial Environment and  Natural Resources Office in Northern Samar,  one of  the sea turtles was found ashore in Barangay Magsaysay, Bobon by a concerned citizen, and was immediately turned over to the  local government for proper care.

Sibbaluca added that the other one was found entangled to a fish net in Barangay Lucban of the same town.

Bobon town officials then requested the PENRO in Northern Samar to  facilitate the immediate release of the rescued pawikans  in coordination with the Philippine National  Police  and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“Prior to the release, DENR metal tags were placed on the flippers of the pawikan  to determine their migratory patterns and their behavior in the water,  and ensure their protection,” Sibbaluca said.

“Both marine turtles were released in the seas of Bobon, considered a nesting site for marine turtles,” he added.

Sibbaluca lauded the concerted efforts and the active involvement of the community, the local government unit, and other agencies in the protection and conservation of the marine turtles.

The conservation of marine turtles locally known as pawikan is one of the environmental campaigns of the agency, he said.

Sibbaluca then appealed for the public to support the Pawikan Conservation Project of the government.

“Inform the nearest DENR office of any sightings of the pawikan or turn them over to authorities if caught or trapped in fish nets or cages or any device at sea,” he said.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the green sea turtle as “endangered.”

As declared by the IUCN, all species of marine turtles and their population are fast diminishing due to animal predation and human exploitation. (FREEMAN)