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| TANAUAN
COAST FAST BECOMING
SANCTUARY
OF SEA TURTLES |
Tanauan,
Leyte -- A big green sea turtle with
the DENR tag PH-0983B TAG 00-Right, was released
Monday morning, September 1, to its natural abode,
off the coast of Tanauan, Leyte. |
This
green sea turtle is the latest in the already
long list of sea turtles caught in the shores
of Tanauan by local fishermen who are aware that
pawikan or sea turtles belong to the endangered
species and must be returned to the sea after
being tagged by the DENR.
Mayor Roque
Tiu informed that the green sea turtle which is
62 centimeters in length and 58 centimeters in
width was caught by a fisherman by the name of
Esteban Leonido from Barangay Cabuynan, in Tanauan
on August 30. |
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Aware
of the local government's policy on the conservation
of natural resources, the fisherman turned over
the green sea turtle to the town's Bantay Dagat
who informed the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources about it.
Mayor Tiu lauded
the fishermen in Tanauan for their awareness in
protecting the endangered species, the sea turtles.
He said that sea turtles are referred to as the
only living remnants of the dinosaur age, but
maybe not for long. Unless sincere efforts are
undertaken, sea turtles might follow the dinosaur
to extinction. |
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Sea turtles,
popularly known in the Philippines as pawikan,
belong to the sub-order Cryptodira, and to the
families Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae. There
are more than 220 species of turtles in the world,
but only seven are considered marine (saltwater).
Five of these species are present in the Philippines.
These are the Green (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta
caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
and the Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). |
So
far, two of the five species have been found in
Tanauan, the green sea turtle which is the most
common species in the Philippines and is found
in all tropical and sub tropical seas; and the
olive ridley which of the five species is considered
carnivorous.
Mayor Tiu said that fast decline in the sea turtle
population in the world has been caused by the
so-called pawikan trade where thousands of sea
turtles were plucked out of the wildlife to supply
the heavy demand for turtle by-products such as
wall décor, jewelry pieces, guitars, bags
and shoes.
Sadly, despite
the government's Pawikan Conservation Project,
pawikan hunting will remain unabated elsewhere
unless people in the area cooperate, Mayor Tiu
added. (PIA 8) |
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