DAVAO CITY – The Panabo City Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) issued a notice of violation last week against a resort owner in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) for illegally keeping newly hatched sea turtles in a rectangular box instead of releasing them into the sea.
In a statement posted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao region on social media, it said that they took action following the viral circulation of a video footage on the resort's social media page that they saw as inappropriate.
"The hatchlings appear to hardly make their way to open sea due to the rectangular wooden frame put as a barrier. Conservation experts say that it is important for the hatchlings to immediately be imprinted to the sand and be released to the ocean as soon as they emerge from the nest," the DENR-Davao said.
A RESORT in the Island Garden City of Samal was cited for keeping newly hatched sea turtles instead of releasing them to the ocean. (DENR-Davao FB)
In a social media post by the resort on January 15, it proudly said: "Look at them go! Two weeks ago, we saw these baby turtles emerging from their nest in the sandy beach line here...Their mother laid her eggs back at around October 31st midnight..."
A team from the DENR-Davao on January 16 went to the area to personally check the post's integrity. They were able to count a total of 130 Hawksbill turtle hatchlings placed on several styro-boxes.
The DENR-Davao ordered the release of the hatchlings, but "the resort staff refused to do so, as they will provide care and release them after six months, as posted on their Facebook page."
But the DENR-Davao said such a plan is wrong and will lower the chance of survival of the hatchlings.
"Moreover, the hatchlings are said to be fed with pellets for freshwater tortoise, an act which can decrease the survival instincts of these hatchlings when released in the ocean," the DENR-Davao added.
The DENR-Davao, through its CENRO in Panabo City, released on January 17 a violation notice against the resort.
It said that under the Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, “it shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and knowingly exploit wildlife resources and their habitats, or undertake the following acts: Collecting, hunting, or possessing wildlife, their by-products, and derivatives.”
Penalties or fines shall be imposed, such as imprisonment of two years and one day to four years and a fine of P30,000 to P300,000 for these illegal acts if inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical.
The resort owner was ordered to immediately release the turtle hatchlings within 24 hours from the receipt of the violation notice, otherwise, it will take appropriate legal actions, the DENR-Davao said.
In the Philippines, five sea turtles are known to come ashore – Hawksbill, Green Sea, Olive ridley, Loggerhead, and Leatherback.
Under Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2019-09, Hawksbill and Leatherback are categorized as critically endangered or at a high risk of facing extinction while the rest are classified as endangered.
DENR-Davao urged the public to immediately report to the nearest government agency any sighting of wildlife species. It said that they will further conduct Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) campaigns to strengthen partnerships with the public regarding wildlife conservation and preservation.