PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Residents of a distant island community in Quezon town, southern Palawan, rescued a green male Malaysian-tagged turtle that was accidentally ensnared in a fish pen on Thursday.
Ruthie Sunayan, the chairman of Barangay Tabon in Quezon, said late Thursday afternoon that it was discovered trapped in a fish pen off Tataran Island.
Personnel of the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released the sea turtle after measuring it and tagging it again.
Sunayan said a local fisherman reported the discovery of the turtle to local officials and environment authorities.
“Kanina ay sinukat ng mga taga-DENR ang pawikan, sobrang laki niya at mahigit isang metro ang lapad (The DENR measured it a while ago. It’s so big, and measures over a meter),” Sunayan said.
The Tabon barangay chairman said they have released a total of 54 sea turtles since 2015. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)
