PIA Press Release
Sunday, January 01, 2012 45-kilo olive ridley sea turtle released to seaNEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Jan.1 (PIA6) -- After spending Christmas holidays in a fish pen at Brgy. Balaring, Silay City, a 45-kilo sea turtle was finally released to its habitat on December 30, 2011. Silay City Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano, together with Councilor Ireneo “Toto” Celis and members of Silay City’s Bantay Dagatled, led the effort to return the sea turtle . The turtle was trapped in the fish pen of Rolando Junio, a local fisher folk, who captured the animal in December 26 and turned it over to the custody of the Bantay Dagat. It was released 12 kilometers away from the shoreline. The olive green sea turtle is the latest addition to the already long list of turtles found in Silay City and returned to their natural habitat, Montelibano said. "Balaring fishermen who captures sea turtles are already aware that these animals belong to the endangered species and must be returned to the sea after being documented by the local government and tagged by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources," Montelibano added. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6/Silay Negros Occidental) |
