CATANAUAN, Quezon – Some 115 newly hatched Olive Ridley Sea turtles were released in Sitio Paraiso, Barangay Cutcutan here recently.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) officer Ramil Gutierrez said their release was witnessed by DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr.
Gutierrez said that the eggs were regularly monitored by the technical staff of CENRO-Catanauan until a resort owner reported that the hatchlings have emerged from their nest.
These hatchlings were identified as Olive Ridley Sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) based on the number of carapace scutes with six to seven pairs in an irregular pattern.
A total of 121 eggs were seen in the nesting site within the resort. Four were unhatched, two died, and 115 hatchlings successfully hatched and released.
The Olive Ridley Sea turtle is also known as the Pacific Ridley Sea turtle and belongs to the family Cheloniidae. It is the second smallest and most abundant sea turtle in the world and commonly found in warm and tropical waters, particularly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Their release was in support of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 which aims to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitat to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity, said Gutierrez.