Endangered turtle saved

CAMARINES SUR—Local government and environment officials released back to sea last week an endangered sea turtle rescued a day earlier by a fisherman on the coast off Ragay Gulf.

Ricardo Aquino, mayor of Ragay town in Camarines Sur, said the leatherback turtle was entangled in the net of fisherman Jonito Rodeo.

Antonio J. Olaguer, town agriculturist, said the turtle was 204 centimeters long from head to tail and 104 cm wide. It weighed at least

200 kg.

Mayor Aquino said the municipal government gave fisherman Rodeo P500 for turning the turtle over and would shoulder the cost of repairing his net. The cash and help could encourage other fishermen to do the same, said the mayor.

The leatherback turtle could grow up to 7 feet long and exceed 900 kg. Its population has been on a decline at an “alarming rate” according to the website of National Geographic. Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon