Hawksbill sea turtle found in Jiabong (Samar)

By NINFA B QUIRANTE, PIA Samar
January 19, 2012

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  A mature hawksbill sea turtle was found in the shallow waters of Barangay Maligaya, Jiabong, Samar on Saturday, January 14, 2012 by fisherfolk Ulpiano Labit.

Labit then informed his agricultural technician Sidney Uy who alerted some authorities about the find.

Fortunately, Labit said that the hawksbill sea turtle was not injured. He suspected it could have just gone astray, he added that he is aware of the law that protects these creatures and approached the AT to know what could be done to the sea turtle.

In a text message, the agricultural technician said that the sea turtle weighed 10 kilograms, and measured 25 cm long and 15 cm in width.

The same sea turtle was released near Mahaba Island in the municipal waters of Jiabong two days after, just as the experts learned it was well enough to be released on the wild.

According to Regional Director John Albaladejo of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the sea turtle is one of the early maturing marine turtle and also one of the smallest marine turtles.

Marine turtles are protected by various international treaties and agreement including Republic Act Number 9147 known as the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.