DAVAO CITY –— The Community Environment and Natural Resouces in Panabo City has issued a notice of violation to a resort owner in Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, for violating the law while keeping new hatched sea turtles inside a rectangular box instead of immediately releasing it to the sea.
The environment department acted after a video posted on the social media page of the resort went viral.
In the official social media account of the resort, it posted the video of the hatchlings saying:
“Look at them go! Two weeks ago, we saw these baby turtles emerging from their nest in the sandy beach line here at Isla Reta. Their mother laid her eggs back at around October 31st at midnight. We shall provide care, and release them after 6 months. Stay tuned for updates!.”
The resort owner posted the video on January 15 at 6:36 in the evening and as of today, it generated 201 shares with 80 comments mostly criticizing the owner for not releasing the hatchlings.
On January 16, a team from DENR-XI immediately went to the area to check on the veracity of the post. They were able to count a total of 130 heads of Hawksbill turtle hatchlings, placed on several styroboxes.
The DENR personnel ordered for the release of the hatchlings but the resort staff reportedly refused, saying the they will provide care and “release them after 6 months”.
According to DENR, “The plan is totally wrong and will definitely alter the already low chance of survival of the hatchlings.”
The hatchlings were reportedly fed with pellets for fresh water tortoise, an act which can decrease the survival instincts of the hatchlings when they will be released in the ocean. the DENR stated.
On January 17, 2024, DENR-XI through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Panabo released a Notice of Violation stressing that under Republic Act 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, it shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and knowingly exploit wildlife resources and their habitats, or undertake the following acts: collecting, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives.
The DENR Davao in a press statement said, “This office sees it inappropriate as the hatchlings appear to hardly make their way to open sea due to the rectangular wooden frame that was put as a barrier.”
Conservation experts say that it is important for the hatchlings to immediately be imprinted to the sand and be released to the ocean as soon as they emerge from the nest.
Based on the notice, the DENR issued an ultimatum to the owner to release the hatchlings within 24 hours or face charges in court.
The violation, if found guilty will be meted with imprisonment of two (2) years and one (1) day to four (4) years and a fine of Thirty thousand pesos (PhP 30,000.00) to Three hundred thousand pesos (PhP 300,000.00) if inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical.
Also stated in the NOV, the owner is hereby ordered to immediately release the turtle hatchlings within 24 hours from the receipt of the NOV, otherwise DENR-XI will take appropriate legal actions.
In the Philippines, there are five (5) sea turtles known to come ashore namely Hawksbill, Green Sea, Olive ridley, Loggerhead and Leatherback. Under Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2019-09, Hawksbill and Leatherback are categorized as Critically Endangered or in the high risk of facing extinction while the rest are categorized as Endangered.
The DENR also urges the public to immediately connect with the DENR to report any sightings of our wildlife species.
