Wildlife volunteers on Sunday rescued a distressed green sea turtle weighing 10.4 kilograms in Sitio Dialao in Barangay Caparispisan in this municipality.

Raymond Sesuca, Corporate Social Responsibility manager of North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp., told the Philippine News Agency that the female turtle was accidentally caught in the net of a local fisherman Mario Abendanio in the early morning.

In coordination with the municipal environment office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in the adjacent town of Bangui, the marine turtle was safely released into the sea.

“Thanks to all environment volunteers particularly the Pagudpud-Bangui Pawikan Conservation Group for facilitating the immediate release of the sea turtle,” Jose Morata, municipal environment and natural resources officer, said.

A clip tag was not available at the time of turtle’s release, he added.

Sightings of sea turtles, colloquially known as “pawikan,” are often in this northernmost part of the province, particularly during the nesting season. Aside from proper documentation, tagging, and the subsequent release of sea turtles caught in nets, the Pagudpud municipal government, partner organizations, and environment advocates, have sustained its conservation project which includes searching for turtle eggs and securing the nests until hatchlings find their way back to the sea.

The Philippine Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Response Manual Series published by the Marine Wild Fauna Watch of the Philippines, Inc. identified seven species of marine turtles in the world. Six of these species are found in Southeast Asia, five of which inhabit the Philippines.

Three of these species can be found in Ilocos Norte, namely the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). (PNA)