Largest marine turtle in the waters of Guimaras

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The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Guimaras together with personnel from Nueva Valencia Municipal and Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) rescued a Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Sta. Ana Bay, Brgy. Poblacion, Nueva Valencia on August 25, 2022.

A female Green sea turtle with carapace curve length (CCL) of 115 cm. and carapace curve width (CCW) of 64 cm. was observed to be in good condition, and also released on the same day.

This Green sea turtle is the biggest marine turtle documented in the Province of Guimaras since 2008, breaking the previous record of 103 cm. CCL and 93 cm. CCW found at Brgy. Dolores, Nueva Valencia eleven years ago, on August 3, 2011.

“PENRO Guimaras have been actively working with the LGUs and other stakeholders by encouraging them to report to the authorities and perform first aid for animals found in similar situations. Many stakeholders have gone through trainings on proper reporting and documentation. As September approaches, we will be joining the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) celebration, various activities have been lined up including the province-wide clean up drives, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns in locally and nationally-proclaimed areas where these animals commonly thrive or establish abode,” PENR Officer Edgardo M. Rostata said.

“Beating the record of biggest marine turtle found in the waters of Guimaras last 2011, this female Green Sea Turtle is a visible proof that the marine ecosystems in Guimaras are thriving well,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

“Let us always bear in mind that our actions that may affect our land resources and marine ecosystems, they are our precious natural resources,” Duran pointed out.

Furthermore, PENRO Guimaras has rescued and released a total of 17 marine turtles since January 2022. Green sea turtles are categorized as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and DAO 2019-09 due to existence of various threats, including hunting and illegal wildlife trade. (DENR-6)