Endangered green sea turtle found dead in Bohol with drilled shell and tied with a rope

A lifeless endangered green sea turtle was discovered at a resort in Anda, Bohol.

According to Kuya Kim’s report in “24 Oras” Friday, the turtle’s shell had a hole that was intentionally drilled and tied with a rope.

The incident has been strongly condemned by the One Pawikan Initiative, a group dedicated to the care, protection, and conservation of sea turtles in the Philippines

“Maituturing po natin siyang cruelty kasi po ito po ay labag sa pamumuhay ng pawikan. Hindi po ito maganda at nakakaapekto sa natural biology ng mga pawikan,” One Pawikan Initiative founder Mark David De Guzman said.

Drilling a hole into a sea turtle’s shell is considered a violation of Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

“Puwede pong makulong ng hanggang labindalawang taon at magmulta ng hanggang isang milyong piso,” De Guzman said.

“Dapat po ang mga awtoridad, kagaya po ng [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] at Department of Tourism, ay manguna po sa pagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon. Mahalaga po na maimbestigahan ito lalo na po sa local government unit kasi po kapag hindi, magpapatuloy po ang ganitong gawain,” he said.

The local government of Anda, Bohol also strongly condemned the incident.

“We have a very strong implementation of our coastal resource management. Naghihintay po kami ng update from DENR since we cannot trace po sir kung sino po talagang may gawa no’n,” Anda, Bohol municipal agricultural officer Ma. Reigelyn Malarijes said.

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News