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DUMAGUETE CITY: A green sea turtle (chelonia mydas)
commonly known as pawikan will soon be released back to sea after
some weeks of stay at the Silliman University Marine Laboratory (SUML)
in Dumaguete City.
The adult turtle, belonging to
one of the world’s endangered turtle species, was recently found
in captive breeding in one of the barangays in Tanjay City, Negros
Oriental.
Operatives of the Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) confiscated the turtle and
turned it over to the SUML.
The law prohibits captive
breeding of endangered marine species.
According to Julieta Luchavez
of the SUML, the sea turtle will be released after the Founder’s
Day celebration of Silliman University in the third week of August.
Records show that SUML has
recovered at least three sea turtles from May to July this year.
Luchavez said Silliman Beach used
to be a hatching place for sea turtles but due to human
disturbances, these mammals have stopped coming back to the beach
during egg-laying season.
--PNA
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