Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard and City Environment and Natural Resources Office – Aparri, Cagayan
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) asked for public support on Saturday to protect the nesting site of a leatherback turtle in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
According to the DENR, the turtle laid eggs in the shoreline of Barangay Centro, Sta. Ana, and returned to the sea.
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In the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, the leatherback turtle is considered critically endangered, which means that it faces an”extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.”
The DENR has also ordered authorities to secure and monitor the turtle’s nesting area.
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“The DENR office in Aparri will closely monitor the nesting site for 75 days for hatchling emergence. It shall also conduct surveillance along nearby coasts to locate other potential nesting areas,” the DENR said.