CEBU CITY – Another batch of green sea turtle hatchlings successfully emerged from a protected nesting site on Alona Beach in Barangay Tawala, Panglao, Bohol.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Central Visayas (DENR-7) described the emergence of 162 hatchlings on Thursday, July 16, as a conservation milestone made possible through the collective efforts of local government units, law enforcement agencies, the private sector, and community partners.

The hatchlings came from a nest containing 192 eggs that was first reported to the DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Tagbilaran City on May 28.

Since then, the nesting site has been under regular monitoring and protection through the DENR Panglao Island Restoration and Rehabilitation Program (PIRRP), ensuring the eggs remained undisturbed throughout their 49-day incubation period until their successful emergence.

“This achievement is not simply about hatchlings reaching the sea. It is the result of weeks of vigilance, commitment, and collaboration among our conservation partners who worked together to protect the nest from the day the eggs were laid until the hatchlings safely emerged,” Bohol-PENR Officer Wilson Henson said.

Upon receiving the report of the hatchlings’ emergence, authorities secured the nesting area to minimize disturbance from beachgoers.

Recognizing the challenges posed by the site’s limited sandy beach and nearby seawall, the response team first released 15 hatchlings to evaluate beach suitability, crawl performance, and orientation toward the sea.

To maximize the survival of the remaining hatchlings, 147 were temporarily secured for release under more favorable conditions with reduced human activity and artificial lighting.

Resort management also cooperated by minimizing surrounding lights while responders discouraged the use of flash photography to prevent hatchling disorientation.

The DENR-7 said the successful emergence demonstrates the effectiveness of its science-based conservation strategies under the PIRRP, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), and the management of the Panglao Island Protected Seascape (PIPS).

Last June 15, 79 green sea turtle hatchlings also safely reached the sea in Panglao.

“Every successful hatchling represents countless hours of monitoring, protection, coordination, and community support. Conservation succeeds when government agencies, local governments, private establishments, people’s organizations, volunteers, and coastal communities work together toward a common goal of protecting our marine biodiversity,” Henson said.