CITY OF SAN FERNADO, Pampanga — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with local government personnel, wildlife responders, and coastal communities, rescued and returned two marine turtles to the sea following rough coastal conditions brought by the southwest monsoon in Barangay La Paz, San Narciso, Zambales.
Edward Sernadilla, head of the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Olongapo City, said Pawikan Rangers rescued and assessed a 13-centimeter juvenile hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricta) after it washed ashore before safely returning it to the sea.
Sernadilla said responders later rescued a 50-centimeter olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) after finding it entangled in discarded fishing net near the local fish landing area. The turtle sustained deep wounds on its flippers and a chip on its carapace and received treatment and rehabilitation at the PawiCare Conservation Site.
PawiCare personnel, together with DENR staff, conducted the turtle’s physical and health assessment and fitted it with identification tag PH 1070A before its release.
San Narciso Mayor La-Rainne Abad Sarmiento led the release of the rehabilitated turtle, joined by representatives from the DENR, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and other wildlife responders.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the immediate action of residents and wildlife responders helped ensure that the stranded turtles received appropriate care and returned safely to their natural habitat.
Pablo urged coastal communities to promptly report stranded, injured, or entangled marine turtles to the DENR, local environment offices, or trained wildlife responders for proper assessment and handling.
DENR Zambales Provincial Head Marife Castillo commended the residents, fellow state workers, and Pawikan Rangers for their quick action in responding to the stranded turtles.
Castillo reminded the public not to handle or release stranded or injured marine turtles on their own, particularly when the animals are entangled in fishing gear, and to seek assistance from trained responders.
The incident also underscored the threat posed by discarded fishing gear, or ghost gear, which can entangle and injure marine animals. The DENR urged coastal communities and fishing groups to properly manage fishing gear and report marine wildlife incidents to the appropriate authorities. (UnliNews Online)
