SUNSET FLIPPERS: Turtle hatchlings crawl toward home

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Boracay Island is still a turtle haven as they keep on laying eggs and turtle hatchlings are seen once again crawling back to their home – the vast ocean.

During the beautiful sunset of December 6, 2022, on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, another majestic moment was witnessed by the locals and tourists: a total of 77 Olive ridley turtle hatchlings emerged from its nest.

The turtle eggs were safely moved to higher ground by CENRO Boracay personnel upon its discovery last October 2022, because the nesting site can be reached by the sea water during high tide and monsoon as per experiences in the past years, adding it was a recreational area.

The DENR CENRO Boracay thru the PAMBCU/Coastal Unit Personnel and the Management of Movenpick Resort and Spa facilitated the release of the healthy marine turtle hatchlings.

This is one indicator and achievement for the goals of rehabilitation and recovery of ecosystems in Boracay island as well as in the conservation and protection of these threatened species.

“Seeing those tiny flippers of hatchlings crawling back to their home is strong proof that Boracay Island has indeed regained back its healthy marine waters,” said DENR 6 Regional Director Livino B. Duran.

RED Duran also lauded the efforts of CENRO Boracay led by CENR Officer Joanette S. Opeda in the implementation of biodiversity conservation on the island. “The efforts and vigilance of CENRO Boracay along with its close collaboration with the private sectors to ensure biodiversity protection and conservation, is truly commendable,” he added.

The Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is considered a vulnerable (VU) species while the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is considered critically endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Both of these marine turtle species keep coming back to lay their eggs on the soft, white sands of Boracay Island. (DENR-6)