A rescued juvenile female Hawksbill turtle is undergoing rehabilitation at a hatchery in this city in preparation for release back to its natural habitat.

Rosevirico Tan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) information officer, said Saturday the Hawksbill turtle was placed in the care of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) Hatchery and Wet Laboratory.

“The turtle is under observation. It will be released back to the sea upon certification from the hatchery veterinarian,” Tan said in an interview on Saturday.

Tan said the turtle was found by a
nine-year old Nelson Azuelo at the coastline of Zone 11, Barangay Cawit, here.

The find was reported to Cawit Barangay Chairperson Serbellio Molina, who in turn handed over the juvenile female turtle to the Biodiversity Conservation Unit of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of this city.

Tan said the turtle is healthy but with scars on its left eye.

The Hawksbill turtle belongs to the marine turtle species found in the Philippines.

It is classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List with its population declining by 80 percent over the past 10 years.

Tan encouraged the public to immediately report any wildlife concerns to the DENR or CENRO field office for the proper handling, rescue, and retrieval operations.

He said they may call or send text messages to the DENR hotline at 0948-147-1250. (PNA)