CASIGURAN, Aurora — Personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Coast Guard tagged and released five female green sea turtles (𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘴) into Casiguran Bay after fisherfolk found them trapped in baklad or fish corrals.

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Casiguran led the rescue of the amphibians along the coasts of Barangays Dibet, Ditinagyan, and Calabgan here on October 26.

CENRO head Ariel Mendoza said the marine turtles were in good physical condition and had no visible injuries.

Two of the turtles were among the largest marine turtles caught in baklad this year, Mendoza said. One measured 78 centimeters in curved carapace length (CCL) and 72.4 centimeters in curved carapace width (CCW), while the other measured 76 centimeters in CCL and 69.8 centimeters in CCW.

The three others measured 46, 44, and 43.3 centimeters in CCL and 41.7, 41, and 42.5 centimeters in CCW, respectively, Mendoza added.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the successful rescue and release of the marine turtles demonstrated the importance of strengthened collaboration in marine wildlife conservation.

“Cooperation and awareness of everybody are vital in promoting timely response to wildlife incidents and contributing to the protection and conservation of marine turtle populations, particularly in the coastal areas of Central Luzon,” Pablo remarked.

Pablo also urged the public to remain vigilant in protecting marine turtles and their habitats to help prevent incidents of accidental capture and disturbance. ▲

PHOTOS: DENR