Stranded sea turtles released in Sibonga
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, April 14 (PIA) -- A group of fishermen found the two sea turtles stranded on the shore of Barangay Simala, Sibonga, Cebu in the evening of April 1, 2012 and were immediately released into the sea at Luna Beach, North Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu on April 2, at exactly 2:30 in the afternoon for their protection.
The marine turtles were stranded due to the strong sea current and while looking for food. Locally known as pawikan, the female turtles belong to Olive ridley and Hawksbill species
Both turtles were immediately released into the sea at Luna Beach, North Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu on April 2, 2012 at exactly 2:30 in the afternoon for safekeeping and protection.
The Olive ridley or Chelonia mydas measured 39 inches long, 24 inches wide with an estimated weight of 80 to 100 kilos while the Hawksbill sea turtle or Eretmochelys imbricata measured 33 inches long, 31 inches wide with a projected weight of 60 to 80 kilos.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said Olive ridley is considered critically endangered species that is facing extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future.
He also pointed out that Hawksbill is an endangered species based on the list of terrestrial species and their categories, that is not critically endangered but which survival in the wild is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating.
He advised the people especially those living near the coastal areas not to harm, collect or kill the sea turtles instead learn to preserve and protect them as they play a critical role in promoting ecological balance and enhancing biological diversity.
“Killing, destroying, inflicting injury, trading, collecting, hunting, and possessing of these critically endangered species is punishable under the wildlife resources conservation and protection act of 2001 or Republic Act No. 9174,” Dichoso explained.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Cebu City Marcelo Niones led the release with the presence Romel Pinatil of the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) in San Fernando, Cebu.(mbcn/PIA-7 & DENR-7)