Stranded turtle released back to Tayabas Bay

This photo shows an olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) being prepared for release to the open sea on Thursday, March 7, 2024, after residents of Barangay Dalahican in Lucena City found it stranded. (Photo courtesy of Lucena City Agriculture Office)

LUCENA CITY — An olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtle that was stranded on the coastline of this city was released to the open sea on Thursday, March 7.

Tanggol Kalikasan (TK) reported that the marine turtle, locally known as “pawikan,” was found on the beach by villagers Zaldy and Anabel Tamayo in Barangay Dalahican on Wednesday night.

The couple immediately reported their discovery to authorities who immediately took care of the reptile.

After physical examination and determining that the turtle is in good condition, authorities and bantay-dagat (fish wardens) brought the turtle back to the deeper portion of Tayabas Bay the next day.

The animal weighs more than 30 kilos and measures 68 centimeters long and 69 centimeters wide.

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Jay Lim, TK project officer, commended the Tamayo couple for their initiative to save the turtle.

“Their deeds should be emulated by other villagers,” he told the Inquirer.

The environmental group has been conducting information campaigns in the coastal village to promote environmental laws and wildlife protection, and to discourage the practice of keeping turtles as pets or consuming their meat and eggs.

READ: Rescued green sea turtle released back to Ormoc Bay

Turtle eggs and meat are considered “aphrodisiacs” and command high prices in the underground market.

The pawikan is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and in the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Republic Act No. 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, and RA 9147, or the Wildlife Act, punish people who fish and take rare and threatened species, and destroy their habitats.