DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A dead sea turtle was found floating off the waters in Barangay Piapi of this city over the weekend.
City Administrator William Ablong said fishermen and members of the Bantay Dagat found the dead turtle, its species unverified yet, at the coral reef near the Silliman Beach on Sunday.
The turtle, found in the vicinity of some fish traps, commonly known as "bobo", was believed to have died due to wounds from a fishing hook found on its body, said Ablong who was informed of the incident by Bantayan Barangay Chairman Albert Aquino.
The turtle was brought to shore and buried at the beach near the airport runway in Piapi, upon the advise of Ablong who said that, considering it was a weekend, there was no technical men, such as from the Silliman University Marine Lab, available at the time.
Mario Aragon, former CENRO of the city and and now re-assigned to Tagbilaran City in Bohol, was also on hand to supervise the retrieval and burial of the remains of the turtle.
Ablong said that, if the marine laboratory is interested in retrieving the carcass for documentation and research purposes, they can always coordinate with the city government to exhume the dead turtle.
The city administrator admitted there was a need for a wildlife rescue center that can attend to incidents like this. (FREEMAN)