DAVAO CITY — Thirty-nine (39) olive ridley turtle hatchlings were released on Saturday at the Great Sta. Cruz Island.
The freedom of the turtles highlighted the Fiesta na Isla de Sta. Cruz held in line with the city’s Summer Festival 2024.
Mayor John Dalipe and Councilor Vino Guingona led the release of the hatchlings demonstrating commitment to wildlife and ecosystem conservation and preservation.
The premiere Sta. Cruz Island is a nesting site for sea turtles and is being taken care of by the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) of the Great and Little Sta. Cruz Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape under the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (OCENR).
Several years ago, environment authorities discovered the nesting area and since then hundreds of olive ridley turtle hatchlings have been released in the area,
Olive Ridley turtles are considered an endangered species. It is also commonly known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle; it is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world (Wikipedia).
