Zambo Sibugay vet removes fishing hooks from sea turtle

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — A green sea turtle is now recuperating after undergoing a one-and-a-half hour surgery to remove two fishing hooks from its throat.

Dr. Efren Davin, the provincial veterinarian, performed the surgery on Wednesday at his office to remove the hooks since the turtle “is in trouble” when it was turned over to environmental authorities.  

“I am very elated to hear that the turtle is very energetic this morning after the operation,” Davin said.

Classified as an endangered species, the green sea turtle was accidentally hooked by a crew of a fishing boat while they were fishing on Wednesday at the municipal waters of this town.

The fishing boat crew turned-over the turtle to the personnel of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) based in Sitio Palid, Barangay Magdaup, this town.

Personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Office (MENRO) picked up the turtle and turned it over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for disposition. 

The female green sea turtle, weighing around 12 kilograms and measuring roughly 50 centimeters long, “was in trouble” when brought by DENR personnel to the provincial veterinarian office for medication.

“She needed to undergo surgery to get the fishhook pricked at the esophagus,” Davin said, adding the turtle is now in the care of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office.

The green sea turtle is among five of seven turtle species in the world that can be found in the Philippines. The other species available in the Philippines are hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback. -PNA