The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is looking into the sea turtle which had its shell defaced in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
The defaced shell of a sea turtle in Silay City gathered different criticisms after it went viral on social media, Facebook, Wednesday, January 4.
The sea turtle or locally-called as ‘Pawikan’ was rescued by the members of Bantay Dagat Silay City on January 3 morning, when it was stuck at the ‘tangkop’ or fish pen of the fishermen in Barangay Balaring, Silay City.
The Bantay Dagat members brought the sea turtle in their headquarters to get some data about the species.
Based on the data gathered by Philnews, the sea turtle weighed 45 kilograms.
It is two feet wide and three feet long.
As shown in the photos, the sea patrol members labelled the shell of the turtle with ‘BANTAY DAGAT SILAY CITY’, as a sign that they were the ones who rescued the mammal, for future use.
In the afternoon, the Bantay Dagat members brought the sea turtle at Silay City hall to show it to the mayor of the city.
However, some netizens took a photo of the mammal at the ground of the city hall showing the big label on its shell in a yellow and reflectorized paint, which went viral on Facebook the next day.
The DENR immediately ordered an investigation on the actions of Bantay Dagat Silay City, since the way the mammal was labelled was improper.
Critics also slammed a policewoman who posed with the endangered animal that was placed on a make-shift leash.
According to the Bantay Dagat members, they put a leash on one of the wings of the rare turtle, because they found it hard to bring it to the seashore without the rope due to its weight.
The sea patrol personnel were able to release the sea turtle back to the seas on Tuesday afternoon, January 4.
The DENR clarified that these endangered animals are labelled through metal tagging, where a stainless metal is placed on one of its wings indicating the place where it was rescued.
The DENR in Negros Occidental is still verifying what species the ‘pawikan’ was.