Turtle freed after treated in Valladolid

A fisherman rescued a female turtle in the municipal waters of Barangay Central Tabao, Valladolid, Negros Occidental. (Photo courtesy of PENRO-DENR)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A female (Olive Ridley (Lepidochelysolivacea) turtle was released back to the waters of Barangay Central Tabao, Valladolid, Negros Occidental after it was treated by authorities.

A press release from the Provincial Environment and Water Resources Office (PENRO), said fisherman Jeric Arevalo and his colleagues rescued the reptile when it accidentally got entangled in his fishing net.

The turtle had some scrapes around its left and right fore flippers possibly due to its struggle during its entanglement. It measures 61 cm in curved carapace length, 58 cm in curved carapace width, approximately 25 kilograms.

Arevalo turned it over to the local authorities then it was transported to the personnel of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Bago, who applied some anesthetic and wound spray on the abrasions to prevent infection.

When its wounds had healed and it appeared responsive to stimuli, the turtle was released in the waters.