An injured Olive ridleysea turtle was found by a fisherman in the waters of Brgy. Central Tabao, Valladolid, Negros Occidental, recently.
The wildlife was turned-over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) in Bago City for veterinary check-up and consultation. It’s feeding behavior and response was monitored as well as its woundstreated with antiseptic wound spray.
Although it was given medical attention, the sea turtle has slow response to its stimuli. It has suffered from wound on its tail, has its right hind leg amputated, it has penile prolapse and has a broken carapace at hind part. Two days after the turn-over, it became totally unresponsive and loses its life. It was then buried within the office grounds of CENRO Bago City.
The sea turtle weighs approximately 20 kilograms, has a curved carapace length of 48 centimeters and curved carapace width of 56 centimeters.
Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelysolivacea) was considered Vulnerable (VU) by the International Union of Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List also further protected under the Republic Act (RA) 9147 known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.
“Sea turtles help maintain a healthy marine ecosystem. It is important to protect and conserve them. Although we had recorded another one loss, initiatives on its protection and conservation are evidently seen as more fishermen and concerned coastal residents turnovers of sea turtles are reported. Let’s continue to save these wildlife species,” said regional executive director Francisco E. Milla Jr. (DENR-6)
