200-kilo turtle trapped in a fish corral

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — A 200-kilo male green turtle (Chelonia mydas), an endangered species, was trapped in a fish corral in the waters off Barangay Naungan in Ormoc City on Wednesday, and then turned over to the City Agriculture Office (CAO) yesterday, for proper disposition.

The heavy animal was brought to the city fishery division by the fishermen, assisted by Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary president Jimmy Elezagui.

Personnel of the Ormoc Fishery Office said the turtle—so far the biggest ever captured in Ormoc waters—is 1.07 meters long and 1.04 meters wide, and is estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old.

The turtle has not yet been released back to the sea because Mayor Richard Gomez wanted city veterinarians to examine it first, and make sure it is healthy. The sea condition now is not also conducive for the turtle’s immediate release because “it is wavy and turbid,” said Irish Belmonte of the fishery division.

Gomez and agriculture and fishery committee chairman Councilor Tommy Serafica, lauded fish corral owner Pablo Amorin, for reporting and turning over the trapped turtle to the city authorities.

The mayor also gave P4,000 cash to Pablo and his wife Elsa to help them repair the damaged fish corral, and then ordered the CAO to help the couple rehabilitate their corral.

This is the 5th marine turtle recovered by the CAO from fishermen since last year. The 4th one was only about 2 to 3 years old, but was emaciated and weak when caught. City vets treated it first before releasing it back to the waters on September 26. (FREEMAN)