3 days after rescue, hurt pawikan dies

CEBU, Philippines - A 30-year-old female sea turtle rescued Saturday in Barangay Bato, Toledo City died yesterday, environment authorities said.

The Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) suffered contusions and was already “very weak” when turned over by residents to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and later to the University of San Carlos Biology Station in Lapu-Lapu City, where the protected sea animal died.

According to a report submitted by Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Assistant Protected Area Superintendent Lutheran Hernando, the injured sea turtle was rescued July 19 in the afternoon by fisherman Lino Flores, who told DENR that the turtle was near the shore.

A physical examination by Hernando found out that the sea turtle sustained contusions in the head apparently from a blow by a hard object.

The turtle was initially turned over to Toledo City Bantay Dagat members Cromwel Dino and Eve Macapobre.

“This is the second time in three months in a similar location this year that we found a sea turtle with serious injury and is very weak,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo R. Montejo.

“We asked the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to assist us in the conduct of the necropsy to determine the cause of death and perhaps preserve the carapace of the turtle,” Montejo said.

The turtle, which has no existing tag when found, is now with the BFAR-7 for necropsy by a veterinarian.

Hernando said that seeing the turtle’s fragile physical condition, he brought her to the San Carlos Biology Station in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City in the morning of July 21.

Yesterday, however, caretaker Rey Tobias found the turtle already dead around 8:30 a.m.

The turtle was more than 30 years old, weighed about 30 kilograms, measured 76 centimeters in length and 74 centimeters in width.

Last May 11, an adult female green sea turtle, which was found with four gunshot wounds in her carapace was rescued and later released three days after.

Hawksbill sea turtles are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Montejo said killing, destroying, inflicting injury, trading, collecting, hunting, and possessing critically-endangered species is punishable under Republic Act No. 9147, or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.”

An investigation is underway to determine if someone is responsible for the injury of the sea turtle that led to its death.

Under the law, anyone who is involved in killing a sea turtle or any wildlife species listed as critically endangered shall be imprisoned for six years to 12 years and is mandated to pay a fine of P100,000 to P1,000,000.

Also, anyone who is involved in illegal trading and selling of wildlife species shall be imprisoned for two years to four years and is mandated to pay a fine of P5,000 up to P300,000.

In addition, anyone who is involved in collecting, hunting and possessing wildlife species shall face two to four years imprisonment and a fine of P30,000 up to P300,000. 

The same penalty applies to anyone who eats the meat or destroys the habitat of these endangered species.—(FREEMAN)