FREEDOM CALLS Baby olive ridley sea turtles crawl back to their natural habitat in Tayabas Bay in Sariaya, Quezon province, after they are released into the sea on Feb. 5 by villagers and fishermen who took care of the hatchlings. —PHOTO COURTESY OF SHERWIN ROSALES/FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY – Another batch of 66 baby Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles on the coast of Sariaya town, Quezon province were released on Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 25) back into their natural habitat in Tayabas Bay.
This month, a total of 685 baby turtles have been set free into the bay.
Sherwin Rosales, the fishery technician at the municipal government’s agriculture office, said they still have 1,100 eggs waiting to be hatched.
“They will also be freed in batches once they are ready to go,” Rosales said in an online interview Thursday.
Ramil Gutierrez, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) based in Catanauan town, reported that 115 Olive Ridley hatchlings were freed on Jan. 13 in the coastal village of Cutcutan.
Another 268 olive ridley sea turtles had also been released on the seashore of Barangay Bignay 2 in Sariaya town on Jan. 10, according to Rosale
The previous day, 64 more hatchlings were likewise freed in the coastal village of Guisguis Talon.
On Jan. 2, 55 other baby turtles were also freed in Bignay 2 and 117 more in Guisguis Talon.
Jay Lim, information officer of Tanggol Kalikasan, said the presence of more sea turtles, or “pawikan,” in Tayabas Bay entails continuous vigilance from all stakeholders for the protection of the endangered species.
“They (sea turtles) are allies of every fisherman,” Lim said in an earlier interview.
He added: “The presence of marine reptile species in a fishing area indicates a balanced marine ecosystem and an abundant supply of fish.” INQ