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๐†๐‹๐€๐, ๐’๐š๐ซ๐š๐ง๐ ๐š๐ง๐ข ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐œ๐ž โ€“ An endangered female green sea turtle locally known as โ€œpawikan,โ€ was freed and returned back to its natural habitat on Friday (March 3) after it was trapped in a fishnet.
Dr. Rosalinda Cortez, community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) of Glan, said her office received a report from Protected Area Ranger Hejerol Diabal that the pawikan was rescued by a bantay dagat in Barangay Burias of this town on Friday morning after being entangled in a fishnet. The pawikan was immediately turned over to the Pawikan Rescue Center in Burias for health examination.
Based on the assessment of Nelson Ycon, park maintenance foreman of the CENRO Glan, the pawikan measures 40 centimeters long, 44 cm wide, weighed 30 kilograms, and fit for release. Before it was freed in Sarangani Bay, the pawikan was tagged with serial number PH2530A for monitoring and identification which is vital in marine turtle conservation.
Dr. Cortez said the pawikan might return to the navigated shorelines of Burias to lay its eggs. She said that female adult green sea turtles can lay thousands of eggs over their lifetime, but only few survive to maintain their species.
โ€œEvery wildlife species has a crucial role in our ecosystems. With our help in the preservation and protection of these species, we are ensuring that our future generations can enjoy our natural world and the precious species that live within it,โ€ she said.
The green sea turtle is listed as endangered species per DENR Administrative Order 2019-09 dated July 12, 2019, thus the government is moving for stronger conservation measures. (With report and photos from JCDumanon, DENR-CENRO Glan IO Designate) | RSCIGM