Green Sea Turtle Dies In Zamboanga Del Sur After Ingesting Plastic Straw

Green Sea Turtle Dies In Zamboanga Del Sur After Ingesting Plastic Straw

GREEN SEA TURTLE – A green sea turtle recently died after being rescued by CENRO of Guipos and BFAR in Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur.

According to a report from Manila Bulletin, Ben Acana of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) said that the sea turtle was discovered trapped last week inside a fish pen by Alberto Gratol, a local fisherman in the village.

Grato reported the incident to CENRO Guipos and BFAR.

Acana said that a team conducted a rescue operation to save the turtle but it was found weak and covered in barnacles around its plastron, flippers, carapace, and neck. The creature died shortly after the operation.

A necropsy examination conducted by personnel from the two agencies showed that the turtle ingested plastic straw and nylon.

Acana explained that the turtle’s food changes with age. Juveniles are carnivorous but become omnivorous as they mature. Young sea turtles eat fish eggs, mollusks, jellyfish, small invertebrates, worms, sponges, algae, and crustaceans.

“This is just one of many incidents of marine species dying due to ingestion of plastic wastes,”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 9 reminded everyone to help on the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources.  

The turtles are among the included in the list of endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources due to its decreasing population.

A website from the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines said that among the threats to green sea turtles are habitat degradation and destruction of feeding areas and nesting beaches and pollution.

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