Post by admin on May 16, 2014 13:58:05 GMT 8
Shot turtle back to sea
Phoebe Jen Indino
May 16, 2014
TOLEDO CITY, Cebu- An adult female green sea turtle with four gunshot wounds in its carapace recued over the weekend is now back in her natural habitat after it was recently released by officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 through its Protected Areas Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).
In a report submitted by Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Assistant Protected Area Superintendent Lutheran Hernando who conducted the physical examination, the said green sea turtle bore four gunshot wounds apparently from a .38 caliber handgun. Three wounds are in the carapace and one in the plastron. The turtle has no existing tag.
The turtle, which is more than five years old, measures 86 centimeters in length with a width of 86 centimeters, was trapped in a fish cage or “bungsod” owned by a certain Adriano Bubuli in Barangay Bato, Toledo City last May 11 at 5:00 AM.
“This is the first time that we get to rescue a sea turtle with gunshot wounds and whoever does this brazen act of disrespect to our wildlife species should be held accountable,” stressed DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo.
Though noticeably weak, Hernando disclosed that the rescued turtle swam speedily when it was released to the sea early this week with a tag of Pawikan Conservation Project-PAWB-DENR bearing serial no. PH 03541 placed in the left frontal flipper. The release was witnessed by some fishers from brgy. Bato, which is part of the TSPS.
Meanwhile, Montejo said killing, destroying, inflicting injury, trading, collecting, hunting, and possessing of these critically endangered species is punishable under the wildlife resources conservation and protection act of 2001 or Republic Act No. 9147.
Under the said law, anyone who is involved in killing or destroying a sea turtle or any wildlife species listed as critically endangered species shall be imprisoned for six years to 12 years and is mandated to pay a fine of P100,000 to P1,000,000.
Also, anyone who is involved in illegal trading and selling of wildlife species shall be imprisoned for two years to four years and is mandated to pay a fine of P5,000 up to P300,000.
Moreover, anyone who is involved in collecting, hunting and possession of wildlife species shall face two years to four years imprisonment and a fine of P30,000 up to P300,000. The same penalty applies for anyone who eats the meat or destroys the habitat of these endangered species.
The DENR-7 top official urged the communities particularly those living near coastal areas to protect the green sea turtles and other wildlife species as they play a critical role in promoting ecological balance and enhancing biological diversity
In a related development, Montejo issued a memorandum last May 12 addressed to the regional technical director for protected area, wildlife, and coastal zone management services to conduct a continuous monitoring on the sightings of green sea turtles within the TSPS, and to strengthen protection and enforcement of environmental laws there.
Green sea turtles are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Source: www.mb.com.ph/shot-turtle-went-back-to-sea/
Phoebe Jen Indino
May 16, 2014
TOLEDO CITY, Cebu- An adult female green sea turtle with four gunshot wounds in its carapace recued over the weekend is now back in her natural habitat after it was recently released by officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 through its Protected Areas Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).
In a report submitted by Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Assistant Protected Area Superintendent Lutheran Hernando who conducted the physical examination, the said green sea turtle bore four gunshot wounds apparently from a .38 caliber handgun. Three wounds are in the carapace and one in the plastron. The turtle has no existing tag.
The turtle, which is more than five years old, measures 86 centimeters in length with a width of 86 centimeters, was trapped in a fish cage or “bungsod” owned by a certain Adriano Bubuli in Barangay Bato, Toledo City last May 11 at 5:00 AM.
“This is the first time that we get to rescue a sea turtle with gunshot wounds and whoever does this brazen act of disrespect to our wildlife species should be held accountable,” stressed DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo.
Though noticeably weak, Hernando disclosed that the rescued turtle swam speedily when it was released to the sea early this week with a tag of Pawikan Conservation Project-PAWB-DENR bearing serial no. PH 03541 placed in the left frontal flipper. The release was witnessed by some fishers from brgy. Bato, which is part of the TSPS.
Meanwhile, Montejo said killing, destroying, inflicting injury, trading, collecting, hunting, and possessing of these critically endangered species is punishable under the wildlife resources conservation and protection act of 2001 or Republic Act No. 9147.
Under the said law, anyone who is involved in killing or destroying a sea turtle or any wildlife species listed as critically endangered species shall be imprisoned for six years to 12 years and is mandated to pay a fine of P100,000 to P1,000,000.
Also, anyone who is involved in illegal trading and selling of wildlife species shall be imprisoned for two years to four years and is mandated to pay a fine of P5,000 up to P300,000.
Moreover, anyone who is involved in collecting, hunting and possession of wildlife species shall face two years to four years imprisonment and a fine of P30,000 up to P300,000. The same penalty applies for anyone who eats the meat or destroys the habitat of these endangered species.
The DENR-7 top official urged the communities particularly those living near coastal areas to protect the green sea turtles and other wildlife species as they play a critical role in promoting ecological balance and enhancing biological diversity
In a related development, Montejo issued a memorandum last May 12 addressed to the regional technical director for protected area, wildlife, and coastal zone management services to conduct a continuous monitoring on the sightings of green sea turtles within the TSPS, and to strengthen protection and enforcement of environmental laws there.
Green sea turtles are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Source: www.mb.com.ph/shot-turtle-went-back-to-sea/