DENR,villagers in Kiamba join hands in protecting endangered sea turtles-JC Guilao/MCalungsod-Locsin /DENRXII

Efforts of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and  the local government  on biodiversity conservation are slowly paying off. Nowadays, local residents readily volunteer their services in safeguarding endangered species like sea turtles which have nesting sites in the  coastal areas of the Municipality of Kiamba, some 95 kilometers southwest of General Santos City.               One morning in early March this year, tricycle driver Noel Peñafiel, a resident of Barangay Suli,  brought to the local DENR office in Kiamba a marine turtle which he found at about 7:45 a.m. on that day to have been wandering along a river in the barangay. The marine animal measuring 53 cm x 50 cm was a Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) which bore a tag with  Serial No. PH 6718 clipped on its right hind flipper. Based on the said tag, it was learned from the records of  CENRO Kiamba  that the animal was once  captured, and tagged in 2009 by the said office.   Meanwhile, CENRO Wahid S. Amella lauded the efforts of Mr. Peñafiel for taking pains in bringing the marine turtle from Barangay Suli to the DENR in Kiamba proper which is more or less two kilometers in distance. "Apparently, Mr. Peñafiel  is aware of the initiatives of the government in  biodiversity conservation  coupled with volunteerism which is very much alive in him," CENRO Amella gladly said.               After a thorough examination, the marine turtle was declared in good condition, hence  CENRO  Amella directed Forester II Jessica C. Guilao, Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Section Chief, to immediately release the said wildlife back to the coastal waters of Barangay Suli,  which she did. The release of the marine animal was witnessed by Mr. Jay Ar Kenneth Casawa, representative of the Municipal Government of Kiamba, and the residents of Barangay Suli. Moreover, a total of  38 marine turtle  hatchlings were also released in the coastal waters of Barangay Suli on the same day. The species of the  hatchlings were identified as Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)  through  the color of their plastron (under part of shell) which is light brown. The baby turtles hatched from eggs laid in a nest in the barangay which is a known nesting site. Local residents usually volunteer to  keep watch over turtle eggs from predators until these hatch.               The Sea Turtle Foundation (www.seaturtlefoundation.org) reports that Green turtles are named not for their body coloration but due to their green fat and muscles, a result of their sea grass diet. Globally, the hunting of marine turtles and collection of their eggs for food continues resulting in the decline of population of the same, hence the need for protection. Marine turtles are protected internationally through treaties and locally through legislation, particularly Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the Philippine Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. (JC Guilao/MCalungsod-Locsin/DENR XII).