3 sea turtles rescued after separate entanglement incidents in Zamboanga del Norte, Capiz

Three endangered sea turtles were rescued and safely returned to the wild after becoming entangled in fishing nets in separate incidents in Zamboanga del Norte and Capiz.

According to Kuya Kim's report in "24 Oras" on Tuesday, the first rescue took place in the coastal waters of Barangay Siparok in Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte, where a fisherman accidentally caught a sea turtle in his fishing net.

Instead of keeping the animal, the fisherman immediately reported the incident to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, whose personnel conducted a physical assessment and found the species to be a female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).

The Green Sea Turtle is a species of sea turtle commonly found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world.

Despite its name, it is not called "green" because of the color of its shell or carapace, but because of the greenish color of the fat beneath its skin.

Per the DENR, the rescued Green Sea Turtle in Barangay Siparok was found to be in good health. After being fitted with flipper tags on both front flippers for monitoring and identification, the turtle was immediately released back into the sea.

"As part of our wildlife registry monitoring, we placed a tag on its flipper with a corresponding number. This follows the guidelines and procedures to help us identify the turtle in case it returns to the Zamboanga Peninsula," Marie Angelique Go, DENR Region XI Executive Director, said in Filipino.

Two days later, on July 30, another sea turtle was rescued after becoming trapped in a fishing net in Barangay Dohinob, President Manuel A. Roxas, also in Zamboanga del Norte.

The turtle was identified as a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta), a species known for its large head, from which its name is derived.

Unlike the first turtle, the loggerhead sustained a head injury and could not be immediately released.

"When it was found, it had a wound on its head. We needed to coordinate with the provincial veterinarian to ensure that it received proper treatment. After three days, when we confirmed that it was safe for release, we returned it to the sea," Go said.

A similar rescue was also reported in Roxas City, Capiz, where a fisherman found a Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) entangled in a fishing net while heading home.

"Our informant was on his way home when he saw that the turtle had been removed from the net. He first reported it to the Philippine Coast Guard, which then contacted the DENR PENRO Capiz, so we sent personnel to respond. The turtle was generally in good condition, so we released it back into the sea," Ernest Federiso, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources OIC, said in Filipino.

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle plays a vital role in maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems by feeding on sea sponges, preventing them from overgrowing and allowing corals to thrive.

However, the species is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, making every successful rescue an important contribution to marine conservation. —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA News