Green Sea Turtle Rescued in Calatagan, Batangas

An endangered green sea turtle, locally known as pawikan, was found stranded off the shores of a coastal village in Calatagan, Batangas, in the Philippines, early morning of January 7, 2008. It was low tide when a local resident of Barangay Talisay spotted the pawikan and immediately reported it to authorities prompting the Calatagan Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC), Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda sa Calatagan, Bantay Dagat and the Philippine National Police to survey the area.

The turtle was turned over to the MFARMC for documentation and was given a tag by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Calaca. According to residents, this was the biggest specimen seen in the area, measuring 39 inches wide, 42 inches long and weighing 120 kilograms. It took eight men to lift the turtle.
The turtle was brought to the Pawikan Rescue Center in Lian, Batangas for further observation and treatment before being released back into the sea (it was returned to the sea two days after it was found). According to MFARMC Chairman Jessie Delos Reyes, pawikans feed on snails, shrimps and crabs and lay around 110 to 130 eggs in the cold months from September to February. The eggs are expected to hatch within 45 to 70 days, depending on weather conditions.

Calatagan used to be a prolific nesting site for pawikans (and other endemic sea turtle species like the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley and Loggerhead). However, sightings have dwindled through the years. In fact, the last sighting was only the 12th specimen spotted on the shores of Calatagan since 2004. Delos Reyes believed that the development of the area into beach resorts and private houses turned it into an unsuitable breeding place for the endangered turtles.

Another threat to the pawikan’s population is the illegall trade of turtle meat, shells and fins. Delos Reyes attributed this to the government’s lack of information dissemination campaign regarding the importance of pawikans in biodiversity and the weak implementation of wildlife protection and conservation programs.