Wounded Olive Ridley returns to sea after rescue in Zamboanga del Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY (August 5) — A deep head wound nearly ended the journey of an Olive Ridley sea turtle along the Zamboanga del Norte coast, highlighting the dangers marine turtles continue to face in waters increasingly exposed to human activity.

The 15-kilogram turtle was found weak and struggling near the shoreline of Barangay Upper Inuman in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, before residents and local authorities rescued it and brought it in for treatment.

After several days of rehabilitation, the turtle was released Sunday along the shore of Barangay Dohinob in President Manuel A. Roxas town, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Zamboanga Peninsula (DENR-9).

Resident Cirilo Orong and village councilor Reynaldo Silvano first spotted the distressed turtle swimming toward the shoreline Thursday. They immediately secured the animal and coordinated with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and other concerned authorities.

A physical examination found the turtle weak and suffering from a deep cut on its head, requiring immediate treatment and monitoring.

The turtle measured 55 centimeters in curved carapace length and 58 centimeters in curved carapace width.

It was brought to the Dohinob Pawikan Hatchery and Rescue Center, where it received care and rehabilitation with assistance from Dr. Sunday Dawn Bagatua of the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Veterinary Office.

After showing significant recovery, the turtle was fitted with flipper tags PH1213A on its left flipper and PH1214A on its right flipper for identification and monitoring.

It was then returned to the sea Sunday.

The rescue, however, also points to the continuing vulnerability of sea turtles along the region’s coastline. Marine turtles can be injured or killed by fishing activities, marine debris, boat traffic and other human-related threats, while the degradation of coastal and nesting habitats further increases pressure on already vulnerable populations.

For local communities, the incident also shows how quickly a distressed animal can be given a second chance when residents report sightings and authorities respond.

The DENR urged communities to continue reporting stranded, injured or distressed marine turtles rather than attempting to keep or handle them unnecessarily, allowing trained personnel to assess and rehabilitate the animals.

For this Olive Ridley, the intervention came in time. After surviving its injury and rehabilitation, it is once again swimming in the waters where it belongs.